December 17, 1998
In order to provide expanded membership service at the national and international level by strengthening the Guild's national management team, the Directors Guild of America has promoted DGA Western Executive Director Warren Adler to fill the newly created position of Associate National Executive Director, DGA National Executive Director Jay D. Roth announced today. Adler assumes his new position as the Guild's second highest ranking executive effective immediately.
"The Guild has greatly expanded its programs in the areas of membership services and contract enforcement, as well as legislative and international affairs, and we are realigning our national executive structure in order to consolidate and continue these improvements," commented Roth. "Warren Adler's new position is a reflection of the great skill and dedication he has long demonstrated on behalf of the DGA membership. In the course of his service with the Guild, he has been involved in almost every aspect of the Guild's functions and has been a guiding force on many Guild triumphs. This appointment will allow our national management team to more effectively utilize his wisdom and experience for the continuing benefit of all DGA members."
Adler began his DGA career in 1978 as Associate General Counsel following five years of law practice after his graduation from Harvard and the University of Michigan Law School. He became Assistant Western Executive Director in 1981 and was promoted to Western Executive Director in 1990. In that capacity, he reported to the National Executive Director and was responsible for contract enforcement and special agreements, and for supervising DGA executives in the Western Region and the heads of several of the Guild's key departments.
In addition, he has handled grievances and arbitrations, negotiated agreements, participated in the DGA's Economics and Creative Rights negotiations, and serves as a trustee of the DGA Pension & Health Plan. He also has served as the executive responsible for liaison with both the Western Assistant Director-Unit Production Manager and Associate Director-Stage Manager-Production Associate Councils as well as the Women's Steering Committee, African American Steering Committee and Latino Committees.
"Warren's extraordinary abilities are well-known to everyone at the Guild," said DGA President Jack Shea. "His contributions to the welfare of the DGA have been invaluable, and I am very pleased that he is being named Associate National Executive Director during my presidency."