Mitch Bainwol

Mitch Bainwol has been the chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) since 2003, succeeding Hilary Rosen. Prior to filling this position, he worked for 25 years in politics and federal policy-making. He and his wife Susan are parents of three children.

Early life and education

Bainwol was born in 1959 in Munich. He spent his childhood in Germany, Thailand, the Canal Zone and Maryland before graduating from Frankfurt American High School.^[1][2] Bainwol studied as an undergraduate at Georgetown University and received an MBA from Rice University.

Career

After his studies, Bainwol became a member of staff for various Republican political figures from 1977 until 2003 (Robin Beard, Connie Mack, Bill Frist and the RNC) before founding the Bainwol Group, a Washington, D.C. based lobby group. More specifically, he served as a Congressional staff intern to Robin Beard, an employee of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, a Congressional Staff Chief to Senator Connie Mack, a Congressional Staff Senate Leadership Staff Director, a member of the Republican National Committee, a consultant for Clark and Weinstock, a Congressional Staff Executive Director for the National Republican Senate Committee, and a Congressional Staff Chief of Staff to Senator Frist.^[1] In 2003 he joined the RIAA as its CEO, succeeding Hilary Rosen. Since then, he has helped the music industry in its fight against piracy and its transition to the digital world. He serves as a member of the Board of the National Fatherhood Initiative, the Leadership Music Foundation and the Bryce Harlow Foundation.^[2]

Bainwol's 2008 compensation package at the RIAA was about $2 million, about a third higher than his 2006 salary.^[3]

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