SOCAN has announced that Cameron Kennedy has been appointed Chief Membership Officer, effective November 1, 2025, succeeding Jean-Christian Céré, who will depart the organization on October 31, 2025, to pursue new professional opportunities.
Kennedy, who has led SOCAN’s Creative services since 2022, brings a wealth of experience and proven track record in strategic leadership. Under his guidance, the organization has strengthened member retention, forged new collaborations within the music industry, and broadened opportunities for its diverse membership base.
As Chief Membership Officer, Kennedy will guide the overall member-centric strategy, working closely with his leadership team, including the Executive Director of Québec Affairs, Alexandre Alonso, to continue to deepen support for the organization’s francophone members and stakeholders in Québec and across Canada.
“My priority is to ensure our Membership team remains responsive to the unique needs of all our members,” said Kennedy. “I look forward to working closely with our talented Membership team across Canada and our partners to uphold a vision of member engagement that celebrates and uplifts our diverse and vibrant music creator community.”
Alonso joined SOCAN’s leadership team in 2023, representing the organization and its members in Québec’s music ecosystem. He has formed important relationships with SOCAN members and the associations that represent them, deepening the organization’s understanding of what matters most to the francophone music community.
SOCAN CEO Jennifer Brown expressed gratitude for Jean-Christian Céré’s leadership: “I want to thank Jean-Christian for his dedication and leadership at SOCAN. Over the past five years he has built a strong leadership team, fostered operational excellence across the organization, and overseen significant advancements in member services. One of his standout achievements was setting up our Québec Affairs team, which now plays an important role in representing the needs of our francophone members within the music community.”
Céré leaves SOCAN after a 15-year career in the music industry. Before becoming SOCAN’s Chief Membership Officer in 2021, he served as General Manager of the SPACQ (Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec), Astec Industries Inc., and before that, President of pipe organ builder, Casavant Frères.
“I feel deeply privileged to have represented the creators and music publishers who define and shape our cultural identity,” Céré said. “My greatest pride remains the team we built – talented, passionate, and deeply dedicated. It’s been a true privilege to work alongside such creative and committed people.”