AMPTP Names Greg Hessinger as New President

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has named Greg Hessinger as its new president, succeeding the retiring Carol Lombardini. He will begin his duties on April 14.

Hessinger will be the chief negotiator on behalf of Hollywood’s studios in future labor contract negotiations with entertainment unions. His first contract cycle as head of AMPTP comes in 2026 as bargaining agreements made in 2023 with the Directors Guild, Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA — the latter two coming after the first double strike seen in the industry since 1960 — are set to expire.

“I’m deeply honored to step into this role at the AMPTP during such a pivotal time for our industry,” said Hessinger. “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 has worked on both sides of the studio/labor divide in Hollywood, starting as the director of labor relations at CBS before becoming the national executive director and CEO at AFTRA from 2000 to 2005. He briefly served as national executive director at the Screen Actors Guild, but was fired after six months amidst internal political strife.

Most recently, Hessinger worked as a Managing Partner of the law firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, where he served as Chair of the firm and represented employers in all aspects of labor and employment law.

“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,” said a spokesperson for 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, who announced she would step down last year, will remain at AMPTP in an advisory role. She first joined the organization upon its founding in 1982 as counsel and was promoted to president in 2009 after a contract cycle that included the 2007 writers strike.

Lombardini’s tenure was marked for more than a decade by smooth contract negotiations, but that was brought to an end in 2023 as writers and actors went on strike for a combined 191 days with the most prominent issues being streaming compensation and protections against artificial intelligence.

Hessinger will have to oversee the development of a new streaming compensation model agreed to in principle by SAG-AFTRA to end the strike, as well as the ongoing implementation of AI in studios’ production processes that has raised the hackles of unions worried about their workers being displaced and above-the-line talent having their creative work used and modified without their consent.

“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,” said Lombardini. “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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