SMPTE’s board of governors has named Sally-Ann D’Amato as executive director, and Richard Welsh has been elected by its membership to serve as SMPTE president.
Sally-Ann D'Amato, SMPTE Executive Director
SMPTE has announced that Sally-Ann D’Amato has been named executive director by the SMPTE board of governors, and Richard Welsh has been elected by its membership to serve as SMPTE president.
Sally-Ann formally began this new role on 18 December 2024, after acting as interim executive director since October. “I’m honoured to accept the role of executive director,” she said. “After more than two decades with the Society, I’m humbled to be chosen as its leader.
“I will continue to work toward a Society that is efficient, innovative and united. My goal as executive director is to encourage more collaboration across sections to create more opportunities for members, strengthen the standards community and reinforce the organization's infrastructure. This will be enacted through a mission we’re calling ‘We Are All One SMPTE.’”
Sally-Ann joined SMPTE in 2001, working as an administrative assistant. She was promoted to executive assistant in 2003, and again promoted to director of operations in 2005. In 2016, she became director of events and governance liaison. In this role, she was responsible for planning and executing events and was also responsible for working with the board on issues of Society governance and board activities. In October 2024, she became the interim executive director.
During her time at SMPTE, D’Amato helped enact the current bylaws and operations manuals. She also has been responsible for producing the Media Technology Summit since 2005, and even produced a virtual version of the event during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also produced the SMPTE centennial celebration in 2016 and incorporates her creativity by writing songs for and performing in many of the events she works on.
“Sally-Ann has been a tremendous asset to SMPTE, and will continue to be in this new role,” SMPTE President Renard T. Jenkins said. “She has proven her commitment, qualifications and talent time and time again, and when asked to lead the Society, she didn’t hesitate to step up. Her performance in the role of interim executive director has already had a positive impact on the Society. I believe she will lead SMPTE to a brighter future, and I look forward to helping her.”
Innovative Thinking
Richard Welsh formally began his term on 1 January 2025 after serving as SMPTE executive vice president. His term will extend two years to 31 December 2026.
Richard Welsh, SMPTE President
Honoured to have been elected SMPTE president, Richard said he is excited about working with the worldwide SMPTE organisation in supporting the industry’s progress. “Since the Society’s inception more than 100 years ago, bringing the moving image to audiences worldwide has been at the heart of SMPTE's mission,” he said.
“With video devices in viewers’ pockets and content available to them on demand, SMPTE’s ongoing commitment to delivering the best possible integrity, quality and experience in media to global audiences is more vital than ever. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity as SMPTE president to deliver on our vision for the media technology industries of unlimited creativity and experiences for everyone.”
Richard is currently the senior vice president of innovation at Deluxe. He has been on the SMPTE board for more than 10 years, most recently serving a two-year term as SMPTE executive vice president. He has also served as SMPTE’s vice president of education and as governor for EMEA, Central/South America. Richard is on the board of IBC as well, and the chair/co-founder of the volumetric asset management company Volustor.
Richard began his career at Dolby Laboratories as a film sound consultant, working his way up to director of digital cinema services in the 12 years he spent there. He later became the head of operations of Technicolor’s digital cinema, localization, and sound services department. More recently, Welsh became an associate lecturer at Southampton Solent University while simultaneously co-founding Sundog Media Toolkit Ltd.
From her own new role as SMPTE executive director, Sally-Ann D’Amato said, “Rich is an innovative thinker with bold plans for the future of the Society. His unwavering commitment to expanding SMPTE's impact on broader and more diverse audiences, along with his dedication to cultivating early-career professionals, is inspiring. We have a great partnership, and I look forward to collaborating with him as we turn his vision for SMPTE into reality.” https://www.smpte.org/
