Contact: Suvasini Patel, Communications and Outreach Manager
718-783-2000 ext. 316
suvasini@witness.org

New York, NY (June 25, 2008) – Today, the Board of Directors of WITNESS the international human rights organization co-founded by musician and activist Peter Gabriel, announced the appointment of Yvette J. Alberdingk Thijm as Executive Director.

Alberdingk Thijm has nearly two decades of experience in media and new technology. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President of Content Strategy & Acquisition at Joost, the global online video platform formed by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the founders of Skype and Kazaa. Prior to joining Joost, Alberdingk Thijm was Executive Vice President of Business Affairs for MTV Networks International (MTVNI), where she oversaw business affairs for all of its branded businesses and channels worldwide (outside the U.S.A.), including digital media initiatives, audiovisual co-productions, new business development, strategic partnerships and joint ventures.

"I am delighted with the appointment of Yvette,” said Gabriel. “One of the central platforms on which WITNESS was founded was to explore all the possibilities that innovation and technology can bring to the struggle for human rights. Yvette clearly understands the opportunities that are unique to this time. She has a vision with which to take WITNESS into its next stage of evolution, particularly with our newest venture, the Hub (http://hub.witness.org).”

Alberdingk Thijm first became involved with WITNESS’ work in 2005, as a member of its Board, and played a key role in defining the strategic direction of the Hub. Gabriel added, “Having worked with her on the Board for a number of years, she has shown all the qualities of a strong, creative and determined leader, yet has also shown great capacity to listen and hear other points of view, which is so important in WITNESS' work."

"I have had a deep passion for human rights issues throughout my life, so the opportunity to use my skills to support the growth of the next generation of human rights defenders is one that I found hard to resist,” said Alberdingk Thijm of her new role .

Alberdingk Thijm will begin her new role at WITNESS on August 1, 2008.  

Founded in 1992, WITNESS uses video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations. WITNESS empowers people to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change. WITNESS videos have been used as part of an international campaign that resulted in the arrest of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in advocating for funding and reparations for landmine victims in Senegal, to name just a couple of its successful campaigns. 

Yvette J. Alberdingk Thijm Biography

Yvette J. Alberdingk Thijm is Executive Director of WITNESS, an international human rights organization, with nearly two decades of experience in media and new technologies.  

Prior to joining WITNESS, she served as Executive Vice President of Content Strategy & Acquisition at Joost, the global online video platform formed by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the founders of Skype and Kazaa.  In this capacity, she secured and maintained hundreds of partnerships with audiovisual content producers and owners, worldwide; built and oversaw Programming, Content Acquisition, and Content Operations teams; and, as part of Joost’s senior management team, she was co-responsible for the platform’s strategic direction and positioning.

Previously, Alberdingk Thijm spent more than a decade at MTV Networks International (MTVNI) and was instrumental in its international growth and its forays into new media. As Executive Vice President of Business Affairs for MTVNI, she oversaw business affairs for all of its branded businesses and channels worldwide (excluding the U.S.A.), including digital media initiatives, audiovisual co-productions, new business development, strategic partnerships and joint ventures. She led successful initiatives including global content and strategic marketing partnerships, and handled the acquisitions and expansions of channels around the world.

Alberdingk Thijm was a member of WITNESS’ Board of Directors from 2005-2008 and is currently on the Advisory Board of “Lioness,” a documentary and outreach project that focuses on the experiences of women veterans from the Iraq War. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008.

Alberdingk Thijm was raised in The Netherlands and has lived in New York since 1988. She has a Masters Degree from the University of Utrecht School of Law, specializing in Producers’ Rights and a Masters Degree in Law (LLM) from New York University School of Law, specializing in intellectual property and trade regulation. She speaks Dutch, English, French and German.