Salling, Gurin replace Absolutely’s Geneste at FRAPA

The Format Recognition and Protection Association has replaced Patty Geneste as chair, with Nordic World sales COO Jan Salling (left) and The Gurin Company’s Phil Gurin now sharing responsibility for running the industry body.

FRAPA said Geneste (below, right) is stepping down for personal reasons. She sold her formats business to Nordic World last year.

The Nordic company recently had Absolutely file for bankruptcy, amid allegations of financial disorder. Geneste denied the business had been mismanaged and told TBI she is taking legal action against Nordic World amid the fallout.

Under Geneste’s tenure, FRAPA relocated its headquarters from Berlin to Naarden in the Netherlands, where it will remain based under the new US-Nordic co-chairship.

Salling said: “Our aim is to take it to the next level, making it more relevant, more useful and more responsive to the rapidly evolving needs of our members. Phil and I intend to make a real difference to FRAPA, not just organisationally, but in terms of positive results for the entire format industry.”

Top that end, FRAPA said Gurin and Salling will intensify FRAPA’s efforts to build a global community for the formats industry, providing its members with format-protection tools as well as advocacy and mediation services.

The new FRAPA chiefs will also, the organisation said, ramp up the association’s involvement in instituting codes of conduct to assist format creators, producers, writers, broadcasters and distributors.

FRAPA added that another focus under the new board will be the sponsorship of more industry events.

Gurin said: “We would like to thank Patty for her hard work on behalf of FRAPA and wish her all the best in her future endeavours. Looking to the future, Jan and I are set to launch several initiatives designed to strengthen FRAPA’s structure, effectiveness and impact.

“To this end, we will shortly be announcing the appointment of several high-profile board members, who will help us to transition FRAPA into a dynamic new era.”