Dan
Glickman:
The MPAA’s
New Leader
In this edition of In
Focus we highlight
the man chosen by the studios to lead their trade association.
As the interview with
Dan Glickman demonstrates, the new chief executive officer
of the Motion
Picture Association of America (MPAA) brings an honest,
affable, and experienced approach to an industry he’s
loved his entire life. In my opinion, our studio partners
could not have chosen a better representative.
I first met Dan in the 1970s when
my late father served with him in the U.S. House of Representatives.
As moderate to conservative members of the Democratic
Party, they both represented Midwestern congressional
districts and both served on the Agriculture Committee.
My father had a great deal of respect for Dan, and would
have been happy to know that I am afforded the opportunity
to work with him.
While in Congress, Dan also served
on the House Committee on the Judiciary – a very
important body for the collective movie industry. That
committee has jurisdiction
over the issues most vital to NATO and its members, including
movie piracy and intellectual property protection, disabilities
laws and antitrust policy.
Later in his career, Dan served as
the secretary of agriculture in the Clinton Cabinet.
In that capacity he managed over
100,000 employees and became known for an efficient
and productive management style. Having begun his career
spending time in court as a trial lawyer, Dan has had
experience
in all three branches of government – judicial,
legislative and executive. With the myriad policy issues
confronting
the MPAA and the movie industry in general, that experience
will prove invaluable.
I strongly believe that the MPAA-NATO
partnership born under the leadership of Jack Valenti
will continue
and grow on Dan Glickman’s watch. We confront
too many challenges for it to do otherwise. And Dan
is the perfect
person for the job.
I encourage all NATO members to welcome
our new partner with energy and warmth. Dan will not
disappoint you.
