News
January 2, 2021 | CEO's Corner
Statement of RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier and COO Michele Ballantyne on the passing of Richard Bates
Washington, D.C. (January 2, 2021) Today, RIAA Chief Executive Officer Mitch Glazier and Chief Operating Officer Michele Ballantyne released the following statement on the passing of Richard M. Bates, Senior Vice President, Government Relations at The Walt Disney Company:
“We are heartbroken about the sudden passing of our friend Richard Bates. Richard was one of a kind: a skilled advocate for The Walt Disney Company, steeped in politics and policy. He was refreshingly candid, direct, and insightful with a razor-sharp wit, twinkle in his eye and huge heart. Richard was a passionate music lover too, and would talk about his favorite artists at every opportunity — Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers and the Tedeschi Trucks Band, to name a few. We will miss him tremendously, as will countless others who had the pleasure of knowing him professionally and personally. We send our condolences and prayers to Richard’s wife Rose, sons Ricky and Chris, and their family and friends during this difficult time.”
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Press Contact:
K. Kim Atterbury