Actors' Equity Association has announced that Christian Hainds will be the union’s new Central Regional Director/Assistant Executive Director effective immediately. Formerly Equity's Senior Business Representative in Chicago, Hainds has been with Actors' Equity since 2012.
"Christian has been part of the Equity family for six years, and I'm thrilled to be able to promote him into this position," said Executive Director Mary McColl. "Christian has gained invaluable experience over the years negotiating contracts and that experience will help move the entire Central Region forward."
As Central Regional Director, Hainds will oversee the union’s operations in 16 states, including collective bargaining, contract administration and staff management and development. In his capacity as assistant executive director, Hainds will also be part of the executive team, working alongside three other assistant executive directors and the executive director to implement and support the union’s long term strategic plan.
Hainds has more than a decade of experience in the labor movement that includes work at SEIU and the Office and Professional Employees International Union. He has also served in a rank-and-file capacity with both the Office and Professional Employees International Union and the Graduate Employees’ Organization, American Federation of Teachers, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Hainds has also served as a delegate to the South Central Federation of Labor in Madison, WI, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, and the Chicago Federation of Labor. Christian has negotiated and administered contracts with public and private universities, non-profit organizations, city and county governments, Fortune 500 and multinational corporations, as well as contracts within the theatre industry.
