Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Upped to CEO of SAG-AFTRA as Guild Extends His Contract

SAG-AFTRA is giving its top executive a major vote of confidence.

The Hollywood guild is giving its national executive director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, a contract extension and elevating him to CEO.

The union says Crabtree-Ireland will serve as CEO through June 2032. His contract was previously set to expire in 2028. He will also continue on as its chief negotiator. His new deal was approved with more than 98 percent of the SAG-AFTRA national board’s support.

Crabtree-Ireland joined SAG-AFTRA more than 25 years ago, and has been leading the union’s negotiations with the Hollywood studios as well as defending the rights of actors amid a rapidly-changing technology environment.

“To battle giant global transnational corporations, we need expert leadership with a track record of successful bargaining and significant operational management expertise. That is Duncan,” SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said in a statement. “He is a powerful executive who has led our union at the bargaining table, in the halls of congress and in boardrooms and conference rooms across the industry and the world. We are thrilled to have guaranteed Duncan’s continued service to the members of SAG-AFTRA.”

“Leading SAG-AFTRA’s staff is the honor of my career, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep doing this work,” added Crabtree-Ireland. “As we continue fighting for human creativity, the coming years will be crucial for charting the path forward. I intend to fight alongside our leadership to make sure our members control their image, likeness, voice, and destiny in the workplace, and that they are compensated fairly in the process. I thank President Astin, the national officers, and the National Board for their trust, and our extraordinary staff team for everything they make possible.”