Veteran entertainment industry lawyer and labor attorney Greg Hessinger was named Tuesday the president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the powerful trade group that leads labor negotiations on behalf of Hollywood's major studios and streaming companies.
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"I'm deeply honored to step into this role at the AMPTP during such a pivotal time for our industry," Hessinger said in a statement released by the AMPTP. "I've spent my entire career working to create and sustain opportunity in entertainment and media, and I look forward to partnering with our Member Companies and union leaders to ensure the hard-working individuals who drive our industry forward can continue to create inspiring content for audiences around the world."
Hessinger will begin his new job on April 14, replacing the retiring Carol Lombardini, who led the AMPTP and served as chief negotiator during the crippling 2023 strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA acting union that brought Hollywood production to a halt.
Hessinger has experience on both sides of the entertainment industry negotiating table, having represented employers while working in private practice and previously serving as director of labor relations at CBS. He also served as the national executive director of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and briefly worked as CEO and national executive director of the Screen Actors Guild, prior to the merger of SAG and AFTRA.
"Greg has been on both sides of the table and knows entertainment inside and out, and is the right leader for our industry at this moment," according to a statement from the AMPTP Board of Directors. "He understands the priorities and values of those who make production possible, and has an extensive track record of bringing parties together to find common ground. We conducted an exhaustive search process and have the utmost confidence that his experience and deep relationships will be invaluable to the work of leading the AMPTP."
Lombardini will remain with AMPTP in an advisory capacity. She joined the organization in 1982 as an attorney and went on to serve various leadership roles before ascending to the presidency.
"It has been an honor to work hand-in-hand with our Member Companies to lead the AMPTP in successful negotiations alongside our union and guild partners for so many years," Lombardini said in a statement. "I am grateful to have worked with so many talented studio executives and respected union representatives to help our industry solve workplace problems. I have no doubt that Greg is the perfect leader to continue to unite our industry and promote opportunity for those who bring entertainment to life."
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