ISME has announced that respected music educator and administrator Ryan Zellner is joining as the new CEO. Ryan comes to ISME with a wealth of experience He has a PhD from Capella University, Minneapolis, USA. He taught at Boston University, University of Connecticut and in public schools, before he joined Little Kids Rock (MusicWill), where he spent seven years as their national program director. During that time he expanded the students from 50,000 to 500,000 and the teachers from 500 to 5,000, whilst building partnerships with other not-for-profit organisations, managing and growing budgets, and developing and implenting evaluation programmes to direct and confirm programme efficacy. He has also been the Director of Strategic Programs at the GRAMMY Music Education Coalition. Most recently he served as Director Extension Programs at John J Cali School of Music, Montclair University, New Jersey, USA. This role is part time so enables him to take up the part time role as ISME CEO.

On being appointed to the role, Ryan said "I am honoured at this opportunity to take my experience in regional and national leadership roles into the international sphere. I am excited about the future of ISME and look forward to working with the executive, board and members to realise ISME's vision and mission."

He started work on 9 January 2023.