Bob Gazzale

Bob Gazzale was named AFI's third president and CEO in November 2007. Gazzale joined the Institute in 1992 and has held various positions including Director, AFI National Programs in New York and Director, AFI Productions in Los Angeles. He has served as writer and producer of the AFI Life Achievement Award telecasts for fifteen years and was a principal in the team that created, produced and wrote the AFI'S 100 Years... series, which has driven millions of people back to the classics of American film. He also created the format for AFI AWARDS, the Institute's annual almanac of excellence, as well as the popular "AFI Night at the Movies." A native Californian, Gazzale is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he helped to launch the Virginia Festival of American Film in 1988. Gazzale served as Director of the festival until 1992, producing over 200 events with a focus on bringing together notables from academia and entertainment and honoring film icons like James Stewart, Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston. The film historian and Emmy-winning producer lives in Los Angeles with his wife Mimi and children Nicholas and Ella.