CEO Change at Anime Expo's SPJA

-Dean Eshom
News Editor/Reviews Editor

After a little over half a decade in the CEO position, Marc Perez announced his resignation on Facebook Tuesday from Anime Expo's parent company, the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA). Perez explained that "it's time to move on."

The SPJA's Board of Directors made an official statement on Wednesday:

The Board of Directors of the SPJA has appointed a long time member of its leadership team, Ray Chiang, as its acting Chief Executive Officer. Effective April 4, 2016 Marc Perez is no longer with the SPJA. The SPJA is grateful to Mr. Perez for his years of service and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

Chiang reassured the populace saying, "We are focusing on executing the plans already in motion in order to deliver a great 25th year of Anime Expo."

Perez had worked with the SPJA for 12 years, and was the company's fourth formal CEO since 2005. He took over the position after Michael Lattanzio stepped down in 2010.

The transition comes at a time of reinvention and expansion for Anime Expo. Perez explained the expo will retain its focus, but will broaden to include a multitude of other types of entertainment media. They wish to open an additional office in Tokyo sometime within the year, hoping to "develop a closer working relationship with the industry we support." The SPJA will also be revealing its new brand name and logo in the months to follow.