MPAA’s Chris Dodd names new executive team
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Putting his stamp on the Motion Picture Assn. of America, former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd announced several top-level appointments to Hollywood’s chief lobbying organization.
Dodd, who was tapped in March to run the MPAA, announced Thursday that Lori McGrogan, his former chief of staff in the Senate, will be brought in as his senior advisor, assisting Dodd in strategic and long-term planning as well as day-to-day operations, the MPAA said in a statement.
Laura Nichols, formerly a senior fellow for the think tank the Center for American Progress, will head up the MPAA’s communications team. Howard Gantman will remain as vice president of corporate communications and report to Nichols.
Heading the new executive team will be Michael O’Leary, who was promoted to senior executive vice president for global policy and external affairs. O’Leary, a former Justice Department official who prosecuted intellectual property crimes, had previously been in charge of the MPAA’s domestic government policy priorities and his expanded role reflects Dodd’s desire to better integrate the organization’s international and domestic functions.
‘I am proud to announce this team of tremendously accomplished individuals,’ Dodd said in a statement. ‘We’ve assembled a senior team, who, together with our dedicated MPAA global staff, will set our sights on delivering a clear and simple message: When it comes to growing our economy, creating jobs, promoting trade and American innovation, movies matter.’
The executive appointments come nearly six months after Dodd was appointed as chairman and chief executive of the MPAA. He replaces Bob Pisano, who resigned in June and had been serving as interim chief executive following the departure of Dan Glickman.
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Former Sen. Chris Dodd to head Motion Picture Assn. of America
-- Richard Verrier
