Dodd could land top MPAA job this week

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Former Sen. Christopher Dodd, the front-runner to head the Motion Picture Assn. of America, could be named as Hollywood’s top lobbyist as early as this week.

Dodd and the MPAA’s board are finalizing the terms of a contract that would put the former U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful in charge of the trade group, said a person close to the search.

As The Times reported two weeks ago, Dodd recently became the lead candidate for the job to replace former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, who resigned as MPAA’s chief executive a year ago.

Dodd, who served five terms in the U.S. Senate before retiring, has no previous experience in the entertainment industry but is being tapped for his deep knowledge of Washington and clout with both political parties. He will be paid a salary of more than $1.5 million annually, according to the person familiar with the search.

-- Richard Verrier