Van Petten has been with the nonprofit trade guild since January 2000. Susan Sprung, who has co-led the organization with Van Petten since April 2019, will take over his duties, the guild said in a press release.
During his 21-year tenure, Van Petten grew the guild’s membership from 350 to 8,000. He helped open guild chapters in San Francisco, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and opened offices in New York.
Patten also assisted in creating the Producer’s Mark in 2012, an award for producers who performed most of their duties on a theatrical motion picture, according to the organization. Patten also oversaw the guild’s “Produced By” conference and the Producers Guild Awards.
“It has been an honor to serve the industry and lead this organization and its members,” Van Petten said in a statement. “As I embark on my next chapter, I take great pride in knowing the Guild is stronger than ever and ready to take on whatever challenges are ahead.”
Prior to joining the guild, Van Petten was an executive vice president of business and legal affairs at Universal Television Studios USA.
Before taking over as national director in 2019, Sprung served as associate national director from 2012 and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2016, according to
“(Van Petten) has led the Guild through more than two decades of service that included many transformative moments that have shaped our organization,” Guild Presidents Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher said in a statement. “We are excited for the work to carry on under the continued leadership of Susan Sprung, who will continue on in her role as National Executive Director.”