Three senior executives at the Directors Guild of America (DGA)–Russ Hollander, David Korduner and Bryan Unger–will take the title of associate national executive director, with each responsible for different areas related to representation, service and the management of the Guild. The announcement was made by Jay D. Roth, DGA national executive director.
The organizational changes are intended to provide greater clarity about leadership roles and responsibilities for each of the Guild’s core functions while also more clearly defining the role of the National Office and the regional offices.
Hollander’s full title will be associate national executive director/Eastern executive director. In this capacity, he will have national responsibility for administration and enforcement of the Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement; the National Commercial Agreement; all Non-Dramatic Programming (including Basic Cable); New Media; all Network News, Sports and Operations; and all Local Stations.
Hollander joined the DGA in 2001 as assistant Eastern executive director and was promoted to Eastern executive director in 2002. Prior to joining the DGA, he was a partner at Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP, a law firm representing labor organizations and employee benefit plans. Hollander received his law degree from Harvard University and his undergraduate degree from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Unger’s full title will be associate national executive director/Western executive director. In this capacity, he will have national responsibility for administration and enforcement of the Basic Agreement; Low Budget Agreement; all Dramatic Programming (including Basic Cable); Creative Rights; Diversity; and Agency Relations.
Unger began his career at the DGA in 1994 as an assistant executive director. He was promoted to associate Western executive director in 1999 and then to Western executive director in 2000. Prior to joining the DGA, Unger worked in film and television production for several years before becoming a labor executive at NABET Local 15 and then serving for five years as an International representative with the IATSE in New York. He graduated from the New York University Film School.
Additionally, Unger will be responsible for local service and representation related to the Western offices of the Guild, while Hollander will be responsible for local service and representation related to the Eastern offices of the Guild. These local duties include: responsibility to local councils and coordinating committees; field operations; monitoring member work, non-union work, discipline and local organizing; and geographical contract administration and enforcement.
Meanwhile Korduner’s full title will be associate national executive director/sr. general counsel. In this capacity, he will have responsibility for oversight and management of Guild departments including Residuals; Membership; Credits; Reports Compliance; Signatories; Human Resources; and Legal.
Korduner first joined the DGA as Associate General Counsel from 1995-2001 before becoming sr. counsel, Labor Relations at ABC/Touchstone Television and senior counsel, Legal Affairs at Disney/ABC Cable Networks. Korduner rejoined the Guild in 2005 and was promoted to general counsel in 2007. He received his B.A. with honors from UC-Santa Cruz, his M.Sc from the London School of Economics and his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law.
“I believe these well-deserved promotions and organizational changes will enhance the Guild’s ability to serve the membership with even greater excellence and commitment to representation and service,” stated Roth.
All three associate national executive directors will continue to report directly to the national executive director, as will the Communications, Finance, Government Affairs, Operations and Special Projects departments.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More