NATO President/CEO John Fithian to Step Down in May 2023

thewrap.com:

“It is nearly impossible to sum up a career of three decades in a few sentences,” said Fithian in a statement. “I will leave that to others.

But my highest goal was always to leave this organization and this industry stronger and more effective than I found it – and more importantly – to ensure that it remains strong and effective after I am gone.

The professional and experienced staff I leave behind and the culture of service we have built together is a legacy to be proud of.”Fithian’s run with NATO began as outside counsel back in 1992, joining the organization full time as president in 2000.

During his tenure, Fithian has steered movie theaters through immense change, including the transition from traditional film stock to digital projectors, the ongoing debate with studios over the length of the theatrical exclusivity window, and the creation of the Las Vegas trade show CinemaCon, which is self-produced by NATO and replaced the Nielsen-owned ShoWest convention.Fithian’s tenure has also seen the rapid development of the international movie theater industry, particularly in China, which became a box office force to rival the U.S.