MPAA announces new leadership team

Former senator and Motion Picture Association of America chairman and CEO Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) announced a new leadership team for Hollywood's lobbying shop on Thursday.

Leading the new team will be Michael O’Leary, who has been promoted to senior executive vice president of global policy and external affairs; executive vice president of global communications Laura Nichols; and senior adviser to the chairman Lori McGrogan.

“While the challenges to our industry are great, I am excited about the future and all it can bring, and am confident that this seasoned, knowledgeable and creative MPAA leadership team is more than up for that challenge," Dodd said.

"Michael O’Leary has already been a key player at the MPAA, but will now be taking on a much more expanded role," he added, citing O'Leary's role in the MPAA's efforts to pass legisation that helps fight online piracy and digital theft.

O'Leary will supervise all of the MPAA's state, federal and international affairs operations. He previously investigated and prosecuted intellectual property cases for the Justice Department and served as counsel to Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He attended Arizona State and the University of Arizona School of Law.

Nichols will join the MPAA from the Center for American Progress (CAP) to oversee all communications, media relations and new-media development. She was one of the architects of CAP's founding in 2003 and has worked for Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill. She attended the University of Missouri.

McGrogan comes to the MPAA from Dodd's Senate staff and will assist him in both long-term planning and day-to-day operations. She served as acting and deputy chief of staff for Dodd's Senate office. McGrogan graduated from George Washington University.