Former Connecticut senator and one-time presidential contender Chris Dodd has been named chairman and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America.

Dodd, a Democrat who served five terms in the U.S. Senate from 1981 to 2011 and

headed the powerful Senate Banking Committee, said he was “truly excited about representing the interests of one of the most creative and productive industries in America, not only in Washington but around the world.”

“In several important ways, taking this step represents a continuation of my work in the Senate, from advancing the interests of children and families and creating and safeguarding American jobs to the protection of intellectual property and the expansion of international trade,” said Dodd.