The Broadway League Names Jason Laks as New President
Laks most recently served as the League’s Interim President and General Counsel.
The Broadway League has appointed Jason Laks as its new President following an extensive national search. Laks brings both a wealth of experience in the industry and a fresh perspective that will usher in a new chapter for the League and its members. Laks most recently served as the League’s Interim President and General Counsel, helping shepherd the organization through the post-pandemic recovery.
“Over the past 10 months, we have embarked on a thoughtful and thorough process around this very important decision. After a national search and extensive interview process, we believe Jason is the right leader for the League at this critical time in our industry,” said Kristin Caskey, Chair of The Broadway League’s Board of Governors. “Jason’s detailed knowledge of the industry, rich relationships with membership, and steadfast commitment to the health of Broadway—both in New York and on the road—make him an ideal choice.”
“I am so humbled by this opportunity. I’ve been in love with Broadway since I was a kid watching touring productions at Proctors Theater in Schenectady. The magic that happens on stage every night in theaters here in New York and across the country is unique and irreplaceable. This is such a critical moment for Broadway. The League represents people from all corners of this industry, and I’m ready to work with our members and our partners to lead us to new heights,” said The Broadway League’s incoming President, Jason Laks.
To direct the search process, The Broadway League’s Board of Governors appointed a Steering Committee chaired by Producer Sue Frost that included League Board Chair Kristin Caskey, Maggie Brohn, Rashad Chambers, Jeff Daniel, Jon Ekeberg, Andrew Flatt, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Aaron Lustbader, Jimmy Nederlander Jr., Lauren Reid, Christina Selby and David Stone. The esteemed executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates led the search in collaboration with the committee. The process was informed by an assessment of the President’s role and League priorities with leadership, members and staff all contributing.
Laks’ selection comes at a critical time for the industry and its recovery. This November, 40 of 41 Broadway theaters are lit up with shows. Annual attendance figures have begun to approach pre-pandemic levels. Laks will officially begin his duties this week.
About Jason Laks
Jason Laks originally joined the Broadway League in 2012 and returned again in 2021 as the General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Labor Relations. Prior to re-joining the League, he was Senior Vice President at NBCUniversal, overseeing labor relations for their broadcast and cable television, sports and owned station operations. In his career, Laks has held positions on both the management and union side of the table in labor relations as well as legal positions focusing on corporate and real estate law. Laks, 52, grew up in Albany and is a proud graduate of the University of Connecticut and Cornell Law School.
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