The U.S. Actors Equity Association has announced that John Connolly is leaving his post as Executive Director.  Carol Waaser will serve as interim Executive Director effective immediately.

John Connolly was hired as Executive Director in 2007.  Before taking this position, Connolly had served as a union leader for a number of years.  He had been a national board member with both Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.  He resigned from his office as President of AFTRA in order to take the Executive Director post.  During his tenure with AEA, Connolly served as chief negotiator for the union's successful negotiations on the Broadway and regional theater collective bargaining agreements. 

Carol Waaser most recently served as Eastern Regional Director.  She had previously announced her retirement in February of 2010 but has agreed to stay on until AEA completes the search for a new Executive Director.

AEA represents 49,000 performers and stage managers working in live theater in the United States.