Bob Daly to step down as AFI board chair after 17 years

Bob Daly plans to step down as chair of the American Film Institute’s board of directors at its trustee meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, ending 17 years in the role. Trustees will discuss a successor at the meeting, Deadline reported. The change will bring new leadership to the board of an organisation devoted to film preservation, recognition and education.

AFI trustees to discuss Daly’s successor on Oct. 21

Variety reported that Daly’s departure is scheduled for the Oct. 21 meeting. Deadline reported that a successor will be discussed there; neither report identified who will take the chair. Daly has held the position since 2009, following decades of service as an AFI trustee.

An AFI representative described Daly’s decision to Deadline as passing the torch to the next generation. Daly called serving as board chair one of the greatest honors of his career in the statement quoted by Deadline. AFI president and chief executive Bob Gazzale credited him with a major impact on the institute’s preservation, celebration and education work over the past 40 years, Deadline reported.

Daly joined AFI’s board in 1981

Daly joined the AFI board in April 1981 and became its chair on Oct. 8, 2009, succeeding co-chairs Jon Avnet and John Cooke, Variety reported. His planned departure from the chairmanship comes about 45 years after he first became a trustee. Founded in 1967, AFI preserves motion-picture heritage, honors artists and educates future storytellers, according to Variety.

Daly’s career at CBS, Warner Bros. and the Dodgers

Variety reported that Daly and Semel were credited with 16 consecutive years of record earnings at Warner Bros. During their leadership, the studio had 13 Best Picture Oscar nominees, including three winners: Chariots of Fire, Driving Miss Daisy and Unforgiven.

Daly later served for four years as chair and chief executive of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Variety reported. The team was sold in 2004.