The Directors Guild of America has extended the employment contract of Russell Hollander as national executive director through the end of 2029.
The extension comes about two weeks before the DGA is set to begin its collective bargaining process with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on May 11. Hollander is a more than 25-year veteran of the guild who has been at the helm since 2017.
DGA president Christopher Nolan confirmed the contract extension for Hollander on Monday. Amid the massive swings in the entertainment and media landscape, the role that guilds play in protecting the interests and rights of artists could not be more vital.
“For nearly a decade as our National Executive Director, Russ has been a steward for the Guild and its members, seeing us through a period of tremendous upheaval in our industry,” Nolan said. “From the pandemic to the strikes and the global contraction in production, Russ has always prioritized and protected the interests of our members, working closely with me, past Guild Presidents, and our National Board. We are grateful for his continued service to our community.”
Hollander joined the DGA in 2001 in New York as assistant executive director.
“I’m honored by the Board’s continued confidence in my service to the membership, especially during times of incredible change,” Hollander said. “The beauty of our Guild is our defining, singular mission to advance the creative and economic rights of our members – and the secret to our longstanding success is the strong partnership between our elected leaders and our professional staff to fulfill that purpose. At a time when the rights of workers need strong champions, it is a privilege to dedicate myself to that purpose and to the members we serve.”
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