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Cindy Charles, who oversaw Twitch's music department, was killed when she was hit by a garbage truck while she was strolling down an Amsterdam canal. Her age was 69.
Charles was struck at approximately 1 p.m. local time on October 14 while strolling along the Passeerdersgracht canal in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, according to several local Dutch outlets. Charles passed away at the scene of the collision despite the fact that emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
According to police, the truck driver was taken into custody for interrogation, Algemeen Dagblad reported. Authorities also stated that the Dutch Public Prosecution Service is still deciding whether to prosecute them and is still investigating the event's cause and fault.
Following their friendship at SUNY Buffalo, where they were both students in the 1970s, Charles' husband Ricky Fishman, who recently reestablished a romantic relationship with the businesswoman, confirmed his wife's passing in a heartbreaking Facebook post.
In an Oct. 15 post, Fishman—who coparented Charles' son Ben from a previous marriage and his son Sam—wrote, "There will be no filling the hole in the universe left by Cindy’s departure from this world." She created a network of friends that no one I have ever known can match because she gave and received love. Right now, a lot of people are in mourning.
"She was at the top of her game, an icon in the music business," Fishman continued, praising his wife's influence in her field.
Daniel Clancy, the CEO of Twitch, later echoed Fishman's remarks, highlighting her contributions to the live-streaming video service.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on October 18, Clancy stated, "Cindy has been leading our team that manages our relationship with the music industry, but most of the members of the Twitch community are probably not familiar with her work." "Cindy has a long history in the music industry and has played a key role in building the solid connections we have now."
"Anybody who uses music on Twitch owes a debt of gratitude to Cindy's work," he added. Even as she negotiated record-breaking music licensing deals for Twitch, including the most recent DJ deal, she never failed to smile.
Charles' legacy will extend beyond her business endeavors, Clancy continued.
"We are sorry to see her go, and we will all really miss her," he continued. "All of us who have worked with her over the years will carry a small piece of her with us."
"Anybody who uses music on Twitch owes a debt of gratitude to Cindy's work," he added. Even as she negotiated record-breaking music licensing deals for Twitch, including the most recent DJ deal, she never failed to smile. Charles' legacy will extend beyond her business endeavors, Clancy continued. "We are sorry to see her go, and we will all really miss her," he continued. "All of us who have worked with her over the years will carry a small piece of her with us."
