Charles Hammerman Rivkin (born 1962)

Charles Hammerman Rivkin (born April 6, 1962) is an American media executive and former United States diplomat who is chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).[1]

Rivkin served as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 2014 to 2017. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 12, 2014, Rivkin assumed office the following day, and was sworn in publicly by U.S. secretary of state John Kerry on April 15, 2014.[2] Rivkin's confirmation marked the first time a U.S. ambassador and former CEO ever led the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

Prior to his appointment, Rivkin served for more than four years as the United States Ambassador to France and Monaco where he led America's first and one of its largest diplomatic missions, which has six constituent posts throughout France and represents over 50 U.S. government agencies and sections. In this capacity, Rivkin also served as the U.S. Permanent Observer to the Council of Europe.

Early life and education[edit]

Rivkin is one of four children of Enid Hammerman and William R. Rivkin, who was the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg under President John F. Kennedy and United States Ambassador to Senegal and Gambia under President Lyndon B. Johnson.[3][4] His mother's grandfather founded J K Industries, a large children's clothing manufacturer, greatly expanded by Rivkin's grandfather. In 1967, Rivkin's father died when he was just 5 years old. His widowed mother remarried Chicago obstetrician Dr. John S. Long in 1971.[4][5][6]

Rivkin spent his junior year of high school with School Year Abroad (SYA) at its SYA France campus located in Rennes, France. Rivkin earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1984. He graduated with distinction in political science and international relations. At Yale, he was a member of two Yale a cappella groups: the underclassmen Spizzwinks and the all-senior Whiffenpoofs. He then earned an M.B.A. from Harvard University in 1988.[7]

Business career[edit]

Prior to entering government service, Rivkin worked in the media sector for over 20 years, serving as president and CEO of entertainment companies such as The Jim Henson Company, then-home of the "Muppets". He also served as CEO of Wildbrain where he won a BAFTA Award as Executive Producer of the hit TV series Yo Gabba Gabba!.[8] Rivkin helped engineer the sale of The Jim Henson Company to EM.TV in 2000 for nearly $1 billion[9] and was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company.[10]

Political activities[edit]

Rivkin served as an at-large California delegate for Senator John Kerry at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and for Barack Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.[11] Rivkin was the California finance co-chair for Obama's 2008 presidential campaign [7] and one of his top fund raisers.[12][13][14][15][16]

Ambassador to France and Monaco[edit]

Rivkin assumed the role of Ambassador in August 2009.[17] Ambassador Rivkin's service in France came at one of the bilateral relationship's strongest moments in recent history.[18][19] To honor the legacy of Franco-American friendship and to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the Allied invasion of mainland Europe during World War II, Rivkin took part in a mass parachute jump over the coast of Normandy on June 3, 2012.[20][21] An estimated crowd of 25,000 watched Rivkin land in a field near Sainte-Mère-Église amidst heavy winds, as he became the first US Ambassador to France to jump from a plane in honor of the troops who fought on D-Day.[22] In support of the U.S. Navy, Rivkin became the first US Ambassador to take off and land on a Navy aircraft carrier in an F-18 Super Hornet when he participated in a training exercise with naval aviators on the USS Eisenhower in March 2013.[23]

According to the Department of State Office of Inspector General's report in May 2012, Rivkin placed new emphasis on support for US exports of goods and services into France.[24] The report called Rivkin a "dynamic and visionary noncareer Ambassador", and credited him with expanding the U.S. Embassy's public diplomacy activities, particularly through his use of social media and his appearances on French national television.[24] Rivkin introduced social media to Embassy Paris, establishing its first ever Facebook [25] and Twitter accounts.[26][27]

As ambassador, Rivkin made youth outreach one of his key priorities and connected the embassy to the next generation of leaders throughout France, including in disadvantaged communities in the banlieues outside larger cities.[28] Rivkin organized a series of seminars for French youth, inviting them to meet with prominent American government officials, actors and musicians. Beginning with actor Samuel L. Jackson's April 2010 visit with students in Bondy, an economically depressed Parisian suburb, Rivkin set up seminars and hosted events with Stephen Colbert, Sylvester Stallone, Woody Allen, Jodie Foster, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, Robert Zemeckis, Allen Stone, Tony Bennett, Herbie Hancock, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and many others.[24][29] "Much of the embassy's outreach is meant to dispel 'mistruths' about the United States," Rivkin said in an interview, adding, "It's easier to hate something you don't understand."[29] In January 2012, Rivkin broadened his outreach efforts by creating the Washburne Award for Innovation in Diversity, recognizing one French and one American company for their best practices in fostering diversity in hiring practices.[30]

In January 2013, Rivkin commented on the pending parole and release of Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, who was sentenced to life in prison for complicity in the murders of an American and an Israeli diplomat: "I am disappointed by the decision today...Life imprisonment was the appropriate sentence for Mr Abdallah's serious crimes, and there is legitimate concern that Mr. Abdallah would continue to represent a danger to the international community if he were allowed to go free."[31]

On July 16, 2013, French President François Hollande awarded Ambassador Rivkin the rank of Commander in the Légion d'honneur at the Elysée Palace. Rivkin is the first US Ambassador in half a century to receive the decoration from a sitting French president.[32] Rivkin's tenure as ambassador to France received highly favorable reviews by both State Department audits and from his embassy's employees.[13] Rivkin left office in November 2013 following his nomination to become an Assistant Secretary of the State Department.[33]

In February 2015, Rivkin received la Grande Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris, the city of Paris' highest honor, from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.[34] In December 2016, Rivkin received the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, the U.S. Department of the Navy's highest civilian recognition, from Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.

Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs[edit]

As Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Rivkin led a bureau at the U.S. State Department that is responsible for managing trade negotiations, investment treaties, economic sanctions, transportation affairs, telecommunications policy, international finance and development related issues, as well as intellectual property right protection. The Bureau is also the Department of State's primary link to the private sector through its Office of Commercial and Business Affairs, which supports U.S. business interests internationally and works to create U.S. jobs by facilitating foreign investment in the United States.[35]

In his first year as Assistant Secretary, Rivkin led multiple economic policy dialogues on behalf of the State Department, including discussions with Colombia,[36] the United Arab Emirates,[37] and Turkey.[38]

In June 2014, Rivkin co-chaired a meeting of the U.S.–Israel Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG) with the ambassador to Israel, Daniel B. Shapiro, in Tel Aviv; held bilateral meetings with Israeli Government officials in Jerusalem; and bilateral meetings with Palestinian businessmen and officials of the Palestinian National Authority in Ramallah.[39] In May 2016 in Ramallah, Rivkin led the first U.S.-Palestinian Economic Dialogue since 2004 in an effort to support private sector growth in the Palestinian economy.[40]

In October 2015 and December 2016, Rivkin co-chaired the first and second annual U.S.-Qatar Economic and Investment Dialogues.[41]

In March 2016, Rivkin and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx signed an arrangement with Cuban government officials to reestablish regularly scheduled flights between the United States and Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years.[42]

In addition, Rivkin provided guidance to the Department of State's 1,600 economic officers around the world and to the U.S. Mission to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.[43]

Motion Picture Association[edit]

As announced on April 28, 2017, Rivkin succeeded Chris Dodd as CEO of the Motion Picture Association (then the Motion Picture Association of America), effective September 5, 2017, and as chairman, effective December 6, 2017. Rivkin's priorities include defending intellectual property and bolstering the MPA's content protection efforts, incentivizing the production of new films and television shows to spur job creation and growth, and expanding U.S. studios' access to international markets, particularly China.[44] In January 2019 Rivkin was directly responsible for Netflix becoming the first streaming service to join the MPA,[45][46] helping to further the growth and evolution of the trade association.[47][48] He also aims to elevate the MPA's profile through improved branding and social media communications, as well as more high-profile events in Washington, D.C.,[1] and an expanded diversity, equity and inclusion program. Rivkin views the entertainment industry not just as an economic force but also as a projection of U.S. values and a form of soft power.[1]

In September 2019, Rivkin unified the association's regional sub-brands (MPA Canada, MPA Europe, Middle East, and Africa) under the banner of a more globally aligned MPA to better reflect the international audiences its member studios serve.[49]

In October 2020, Rivkin recruited Apple TV+ to join the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE),[50] the global coalition to reduce piracy and protect the legal marketplace for creative content. During Rivkin's tenure, ACE membership has grown to include 35 leading global media and entertainment companies.

In 2024, Rivkin recruited and brought on board Amazon Prime Video & MGM Studios to join the MPA as its seventh member, a notable convergence of tech and entertainment, solidifying the MPA as a voice for the ever-evolving film and television landscape. [51]

Personal life[edit]

In 1990, Rivkin married Susan Tolson.[3] They live in Washington, D.C., and have two children, Elias and Lily.

His brother Robert S. Rivkin served as Deputy Mayor of the City of Chicago between July 20, 2017, and March 1, 2019, and also served as the 21st General Counsel of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) under President Barack Obama;[52][53] his brother's wife, Cindy S. Moelis, was appointed director of the Presidential Commission on White House Fellows.[53] His aunt, Joanne H. Alter, was the first woman to be elected to a countywide office in the metropolitan Chicago area.[54] His cousin, Jonathan Alter, is an author and NBC correspondent; and his cousin Jamie Alter Lynton, the wife of former Sony Executive Michael Lynton, is one of California's biggest political fundraisers.

His family has presented the "Rivkin Award" at the United States Department of State since 1968 as a way to honor intellectual courage and constructive dissent in the American Foreign Service.[11] The award was created in part with the help of Charles Rivkin's godfather, Hubert H. Humphrey, after the elder Rivkin's death at 47, in 1967.[7]

References[edit]

^
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a b c Barnes, Brooks (April 1, 2018). "Hollywood's Ambassador, Schooled in Diplomacy and the Muppets". The New York Times.
^ "Remarks at Swearing-in Ceremony for Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin". U.S. Department of State.
^
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a b "Ms. Tolson Wed To Charles Rivkin" Aug. 5, 1990, The New York Times.
^
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a b Chicago Tribune: "Enid H. Long, 71 - Served on college board, medical relief missions" By James Janega January 29, 2002
^ Chicago Tribune: "Dr. John Sterry Long, 1921-2013 - Rush obstetrician-gynecologist delivered more than 10,000 babies" By Patrick Svitek January 11, 2013 | Neal Ball, the committee's founder, met Dr. Long and his second wife, the late Enid Hammerman Rivkin Long
^ "Robert Rivkin takes on challenge of Toyota inquest with Transportation Department". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. His great-grandfather founded J.K. Industries in Chicago and his grandfather, Sol Hammerman, grew it into one of the nation's largest children's clothing manufacturers.
^
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a b c "New U.S. Envoy Takes Up Post" by Brian Knowlton, The New York Times, Aug. 16, 2009. Retrieved 8/16/09.
^ "C21Media".
^ "Henson tab near $1 bil", Variety, 24 February 2000
^ "Most Creative People 2009". Fast Company. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
^
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a b thecable.foreignpolicy.com announcement
^ USA Today: "5 Top Bundlers for Barack Obama - All five have collected more than $500,000 in campaign donations from other people" August 22, 2008
^
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a b The Atlantic: "Being Good at Raising Money Doesn't Make You a Good Diplomat - Will foreign policy skills, rather than campaign fundraising, ever matter when it comes to political ambassador appointments?" by Nicholas Kralev March 19, 2013
^ Chicago Magazine: "Key Obama campaign backers who were appointed ambassadors - Winners’ Row: A sample of bundlers for Obama who are now ambassadors posted abroad" By Carol Felsenthal February 1, 2010
^ New York Times: "Obama Rewarded ’08 Fund-Raisers, Barring Some From Helping Now" By MARK LANDLER JULY 24, 2012
^ Variety magazine: "Hollywood’s Diplomatic Intrigue - Industry figures see last chance for ambassadorship" by Ted Johnson March 2, 2013
^ Knowlton, Brian (August 16, 2009). "New U.S. Envoy Takes Up Post". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
^ "Friendship on the menu at French-US dinner". euronews.
^ "Interview: «Cooperation Has Reached an Unprecedented Level»", Les Echos, 26 March 2013.
^ "US ambassador marks D-Day with Normandy parachute jump". MSNBC. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012.
^ "U.S. Ambassador Charles Rivkin marks D-Day with a parachute jump" (Video). YouTube. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
^ "US ambassador in D-Day jump". The Connexion. June 4, 2012.
^ "Marseille likes Ike". Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
^
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a b c "Office of Inspector General's Report on Embassy Paris, May 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
^ "U.S. Embassy France". Facebook. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021.
^ "U.S. Embassy France (@USEmbassyFrance)". Twitter. Archived from the original on August 3, 2023.
^ "Charles H. Rivkin (@AmbRivkin)". Twitter. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018.
^ "Comment les Etats-Unis investissent les cités", Le Parisien, January 26, 2013.
^
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a b Sayare, Scott (September 22, 2010). "Feeling Slighted by France, and Respected by the U.S.". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022.
^ "Un plan coordonné en faveur de l'innovation | Nos amis américains | Prix Washburne", Le Monde, May 30, 2013.
^ Jewish Telegraph Agency: "France paroling Lebanese man involved in murders of Israeli, American" By Cnaan Liphshiz January 11, 2013
^ "US Embassy France Internet page". July 26, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014.
^ "Ambassador Charles Rivkin permanently departed post on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 following his nomination by President Obama to serve as Assistant Secretary of the State Department's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
^ Sciolino, Elaine (August 2, 2013). "Much Ado About the Legion of Honor". T Magazine. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^ "Charles H. Rivkin - Bio". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
^ "Department of State Public Schedule, February 28, 2014".
^ "Sixth UAE-US Economic Policy Dialogue in Washington concludes". Gulf News. December 11, 2014.
^ "Turkish officials meet American diplomats in D.C. to discuss economic partnership". Daily Sabah. February 14, 2015.
^ San Diego Jewish World: "Amid tumult, Rivkin heads for Israel and P.A." 13 June 2014.
^ "U.S, Palestine hold first Economic Dialogue since 2004". Zawya. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
^ "Qatar to continue its ambitious development drive: Al-Emadi". Gulf-Times. December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
^ "U.S., Cuba sign civil aviation accord in Havana as Cuba's foreign trade minister visits Washington". Miami Herald. February 16, 2016.
^ "Rivkin, Charles H." U.S. Department of State. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^ Faughnder, Ryan (September 2, 2017). "New MPAA chief Charles Rivkin aims to be a diplomat for Hollywood at an uncertain time". Los Angeles Times.
^ "Netflix Becomes First Streamer to Join the Motion Picture Association of America". The Hollywood Reporter. January 22, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
^ Kelly, Makena (January 22, 2019). "Netflix becomes first streaming company to join the MPAA". The Verge. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
^ Williams, Trey (January 22, 2019). "Netflix Joins Motion Picture Association of America". TheWrap. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
^ Johnson, Ted (January 24, 2019). "Charles Rivkin on Netflix Joining the MPAA — Will Amazon Be Next?". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
^ Johnson, Ted (September 18, 2019). "Motion Picture Association Rebrands With Unified Name And Updated Logo". Deadline. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^ Maddaus, Gene (October 7, 2020). "Apple TV Plus Joins Motion Picture Industry Anti-Piracy Group". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^ Barnes, Brooks (September 19, 2024). "Amazon Joins Hollywood's Top Lobbying Group". New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
^ All Gov: "Ambassador to France: Who is Charles Rivkin? July 14, 2009
^
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a b Huffington Post: "All in the Family -- Husband, Wife, Brother all Make Obama's Team Rivkin's cousin" by Carol Felsenthal May 25, 2011
^ Jensen, Trevor (November 11, 2008). "Joanne H. Alter: 1927 - 2008". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 13, 2014.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles Rivkin.

Charles Rivkin’s CineAsia Keynote Address. Published December 14, 2017.
Charles Rivkin’s Speech at Asia Society’s U.S.-China Film Summit. (Video.) Published November 1, 2017.
The Playbook Interview: MPAA CEO Charles Rivkin. Published September 22, 2017.
U.S. Embassy in France
Politico article
Sayare, Scott (September 22, 2010). "Feeling Slighted by France, and Respected by the U.S.". The New York Times.
Boston article
Appearances on C-SPAN

https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-charles-rivkin-mpaa-2017090-story.html

2017-09-02-latimes-com-/la-fi-ct-charles-rivkin-mpaa-2017090-story.pdf

2017-09-02-latimes-com-/la-fi-ct-charles-rivkin-mpaa-2017090-story-img-1.jpg

HOLLYWOOD INC.

New MPAA chief Charles Rivkin aims to be a diplomat for Hollywood at an uncertain time

Charles Rivkin is incoming chief of the Motion Picture Assn. of America. His diplomatic skills are about to be put to their biggest test yet. (Joshua Roberts / For The Times)

By Ryan Faughnder

Staff Writer

Sept. 2, 2017 6 AM PT

Upon arriving in Paris as the new U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco in 2009, Charles Rivkin used his show business pedigree to charm President Nicolas Sarkozy with a gift: a framed poster of Rita Hayworth.

It was a smooth move for Rivkin, whom President Obama chose for the role after a 20-year career in the entertainment industry, including stints at Jim Henson Co. and “Yo Gabba Gabba” producer WildBrain.

“I witnessed first-hand the impact entertainment has on the planet,” Rivkin, 55, said of his time in the Foreign Service. “It’s a shining beacon of what our country stands for.”

Rivkin’s diplomatic skills are about to be put to their biggest test yet as he takes the helm of the Motion Picture Assn. of America this week, replacing Christopher Dodd, who has held the job since 2011. Rivkin will be the top Washington lobbyist for Hollywood at a time of great uncertainty driven by changes in consumer behavior.

The job of MPAA chief has long been considered one of the toughest gigs in the entertainment business, even during the days of the late Jack Valenti, who ran the organization for four decades until he retired in 2004.

The biggest challenge: to wrangle consensus among six major studios — Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., Fox, Sony and Paramount — whose interests often conflict. The organization, for example, has been reluctant to weigh in on the fierce debate over the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules.

“It’s a very difficult job,” said Jeff Shell, chairman of Comcast Corp.’s Universal Filmed Entertainment Group. “We need the MPAA to be a strong advocate for things that improve the business collectively and figure out how to address the world as it changes.”

Indeed, the MPAA’s role has become only more complicated in recent years as the list of challenges gets longer and more formidable.

The domestic box office, which for years has faced long-term stagnation in theater attendance, just wrapped up its least-attended summer movie season in 25 years. Studios are under pressure to figure out how to make movies available for home viewing more quickly after their theatrical releases, but none agree how to do so.

Online piracy continues to eat into studio profits and disruption by Silicon Valley is driving consolidation among media conglomerates. Warner Bros.’ parent company, Time Warner Inc., is in the process of being acquired by AT&T, pending government approval.

The MPAA doesn’t have the kind of influence it once did as tech giants such as Google and Facebook have increased their clout in Washington.

“It’s a completely different business now,” said John Emerson, former U.S. ambassador to Germany who has known Rivkin for years. “Charlie has those skills that will help him navigate what is a much more complicated job than it was when it was first created.”

Complicating matters, Rivkin will be dealing with a Trump administration that has been openly hostile to people connected to the Obama administration, and especially Hollywood elite, who generally backed Hillary Clinton.

If that all sounds daunting, you wouldn’t know it from talking to Rivkin. Speaking by phone from Washington, D.C., the former ambassador sounded ebullient about the tasks ahead.

“This is possibly the best job in the world,” said Rivkin, who starts Tuesday. “My objective is to chart the course for success in a world that is accelerating extraordinarily quickly…. The essence of diplomacy is finding common ground, and there’s plenty of common ground in this industry.”

As for the Trump administration, Rivkin says the entertainment industry is more aligned with the president’s agenda than it seems.

“What we need to do is get the word out and help everyone understand that when you invest in this industry, you invest in American jobs,” he said.

One of his key priorities at the MPAA will be to ramp up the organization’s anti-piracy efforts, both in the U.S. and abroad. Under Dodd, who will stay at the organization until the end of the year, the MPAA waged successful battles against piracy on several fronts, but the group suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Google and other tech giants in 2012 because of the failure of the Stop Online Piracy Act, known as SOPA.

More recently, Dodd and the MPAA forged an unlikely partnership with technology companies including Netflix and Amazon to combat copyright theft around the world. How those efforts will unfold remains to be seen, but building on that pact (known as ACE) by forging alliances with Silicon Valley will be key.

“This alliance is now going to aid us tremendously in the fight against piracy,” Rivkin said.

Rivkin said another key task will be to evaluate the MPAA’s most thankless job: that of assigning parental guidance ratings to Hollywood’s theatrical films. Critics have said the ratings are inconsistent and at times arbitrary. An R-rating for transgender film “3 Generations” recently sparked a backlash from the Weinstein Co.

Perhaps the most pressing task is in China, which remains a vitally important foreign market despite a cooling of the box office there. Rivkin plans to work with U.S. government officials to increase the number of movies the studios can release under a revenue sharing agreement with the Chinese government. The current quota allows only 34 foreign movies into the country annually under a deal in which studios collect 25% of ticket sales. He also sees hope in the future of co-productions between U.S. and Chinese companies.

“It’s an enormous opportunity for the American studios,” Rivkin said. Expanding the quota will “absolutely be at the top of my list once I get involved.”

Rivkin’s background in politics and business has uniquely prepared him for his new job. His father, respected diplomat William R. Rivkin, served as ambassador to Luxembourg, Senegal and Gambia under presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

And as a college student at Yale, the young Rivkin contemplated following in his father’s footsteps, but he ultimately pursued a career in the private sector. After getting his MBA from Harvard, Rivkin brought much-needed business acumen to the tight-knit, family-run Jim Henson Co.

“When Jim hired me, there were no other MBAs in the history of the company, so we had to do everything from scratch,” Rivkin said. “I worked closely with Jim to clean up the business.”

After Henson died in 1990, Rivkin worked with Brian Henson to grow the company when few in Hollywood believed it could continue without its visionary founder and he eventually became its president.

“After my dad died, everyone in Hollywood thought the company was done,” said Brian Henson, chairman of Jim Henson Co. “Within three years, we had a fully fledged Muppet movie.”

Rivkin engineered the sale of the company for $680 million in 2000. Later, after the Henson family bought the company back, he helped negotiate the sale of rights to “The Muppets” and “Bear in the Big Blue House” to Walt Disney Co. in 2004 for an undisclosed amount.

Rivkin ventured further into kids programming the next year when he became CEO of San Francisco-based WildBrain, which produced children’s shows and commercials.

Meanwhile, Rivkin kept one foot in politics, working on John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign. He served as California finance co-chair for Barack Obama’s 2008 run at the presidency, corralling high-profile donors, many of whom were entertainment industry elite. He raised $500,000 for the campaign and played a key role uniting Hollywood behind the young senator after he defeated Hillary Clinton for the nomination.

His twin interests in politics and entertainment converged after Obama’s victory, when Rivkin became the youngest ambassador to France in 56 years. Fluent in French, he used his show business connections to improve America’s image in France, especially in the low-income communities in Paris’ banlieues, or suburbs. He brought Samuel L. Jackson to talk to young Parisians, who knew the actor from “Pulp Fiction.” He also arranged a concert by Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am and an appearance by Jodie Foster, a flawless French speaker.

“That was his instinct, and he saw that as an area where he could actually make a big difference,” said Emerson, the former ambassador to Germany. “I thought that was proactively visionary of Charlie.”

In 2014, he was sworn in as assistant secretary of State for economic and business affairs, where his duties included the protection of international property rights. In India, for example, Rivkin pushed ways to stem the rise of digital piracy, including legislation against video recording in movie theaters.

Rivkin’s knowledge of piracy and other key issues, plus his experience running businesses and dealing with Washington and international governments — not to mention fragile Hollywood egos — made him an ideal choice to lead the MPAA, executives said.

“One of the things that was really evident was Charlie’s passion for the economic impact and cultural impact of entertainment around the world,” said Kevin Tsujihara, CEO of Warner Bros. “I knew he was going to be an incredible advocate for what we do.”

For his part, Rivkin said he was looking for a role that would combine his interests in media and government. He recalls a lesson imparted many times by Jim Henson that media can be used as a source of good in the world. The same, he argues, can be said of government.

“I said to myself, ‘I wonder if a job exists where I can serve both passions,’” he said. “It turns out, this is the only one that does that.”

ryan.faughnder@latimes.com

@rfaughnder

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