New York City) – The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) have appointed Douglas J. Wood of the law firm Reed Smith as the lead negotiator for the advertising industry’s talent negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). The current SAG/AFTRA contract expires in October of 2006.
Mr. Wood, the ANA’s General Counsel, replaces Ira Shepard of Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard, who has personally led the talent negotiations for five years. “Ira Shepard has managed the SAG/AFTRA negotiations with great passion and professionalism,” said O. Burtch Drake, President and CEO, AAAA. “Thanks to his efforts, and the efforts of his esteemed law firm, the advertising industry has effectively addressed a wide array talent rights and compensation issues.” Added Robert Liodice, President and CEO, ANA, “Ira Shepard’s leadership, especially during the difficult Year 2000 negotiations, was particularly noteworthy. His commitment to crafting a fair and balanced agreement was critically important in quelling the industry’s longest work stoppage. We are deeply grateful for his wisdom and insight.”
The change in lead negotiators resulted from a thorough review by the ANA, on behalf of the Joint Policy Committee, of the SAG/AFTRA negotiation process and a decision to consolidate responsibility for all ANA legal affairs under the Association’s General Counsel. “Doug Wood’s deep, daily involvement in so many aspects of the ANA, as well as his broad knowledge of advertising industry issues, position him extraordinarily well to assume this new responsibility,” said Liodice. “We are confident he will bring great leadership and operational efficiency to the negotiation process, building on the superb efforts of Ira Shepard over the years.”
About the ANA
The ANA's mission is to provide indispensable leadership that drives marketing communications, media and brand management excellence and champions, promotes and defends industry interests. The ANA is the industry’s foremost and recognized source of marketing communications best practices. It also leads industry initiatives, influences industry practices, manages industry affairs, and advances, promote and protect all advertisers and marketers. The trade association represents 350 companies with 8,000 brands that collectively spend over $100 billion in marketing communications and advertising. For more information visit www.ana.net.
For more information visit www.ana.net.
About the AAAA
The American Association of Advertising Agencies is the national trade association of the advertising agency business. The 1,196 member agency offices it serves in the United States employ 65,000 people, offer a wide range of marketing communications services, and place 75 percent of all national advertising. The management-oriented association helps its members build their businesses, and acts as the industry's spokesman with government, media, and the public sector.
For more information visit www.aaaa.org.
Press contact:
Steve Rubel
CooperKatz & Company for the ANA
Office: 212-455-8085
Cell: 516-314-6837
srubel@cooperkatz.com
