From The Hollywood Reporter

Former Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. has emerged as the early front-runner among studios to succeed Hollywood’s top lobbyist Dan Glickman, who has made it official that he will depart as MPAA chairman and CEO when his contract expires in 10 months.

With Glickman’s contract expiring Sept. 1, he informed the MPAA board of his decision Monday after an interview with Politico published late Sunday.

Although the formal search process has not began, Ford has started lobbying studios. But there are other names being bandied about, and additional contenders are sure to emerge during a complex recruitment process that requires a candidate to win the approval of all six major studios.

As chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, Ford, 39, has more than youth and a record of activity in the black community on his side. He also is well-liked and has a reputation for being a good speaker. His political career has been on the rise despite a narrow loss to Bob Corker in Tennessee’s Senate election in 2006.

The last change atop the MPAA also included numerous swerves.

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