John Fithian
President, The National Association of Theatre Owners

John Fithian assumed the post of president of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) on January 1, 2000. During his first two years in office, Fithian met often with many of NATO’s 700 members in the United States and overseas. He has helped guide theatre owners through the recent challenges facing the exhibition industry, including technological developments, government oversight of the movie rating system, and relationships with the creative, production and distribution communities. He serves as the chief public spokesperson for theatre owners before public officials and the press. Recognizing the rapid globalization of the exhibition industry, Fithian has worked to improve coordination and communication between domestic theatre owners and international cinema operators.

Prior to joining NATO full-time, Fithian served throughout the 1990s as NATO’s Washington counsel at the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Patton Boggs LLP. In addition to NATO, Fithian represented many other trade associations, as well as numerous professional athlete unions, telecommunications companies, nonprofit organizations, publishers and advertisers.

The son of a former Democratic congressman from Indiana, Fithian received his B.A. from William and Mary in 1984, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with high honors, and his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1987. He and his wife, Maria Gaganis, divide their time between offices and homes in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. John's two sons, Zachary and Alexander, are 15 and 11 respectively.

North Hollywood, Calif.-based NATO is the world's largest trade association for cinema owners, representing approximately two-thirds of the screens in the U.S. and many more abroad.



For More Information Contact:
NATO
4605 Lankershim Boulevard Suite 340
North Hollywood, California 91602
(818) 506-1778 FAX: (818) 506-0269