Finan Leaving ABA to Become NCAC Executive Director

Chris Finan

American Booksellers for Free Expression director Chris Finan is leaving the American Booksellers Association, effective July 7, to become the executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship, Bookselling This Week reported. In addition to the ABA, members of the NCAC include the Association of American Publishers, the American Library Association, the College Art Association, the Dramatists Guild and PEN America.

"NCAC is a very broad representation of people, groups, and professions, and ABA is one of the participating organizations that has been part of NCAC since the beginning, so in a real sense, I am going to continue to work for booksellers on First Amendment and free speech issues," said Finan.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher commented, "Chris and I have worked together for 30 years, first in his capacity at Media Coalition and later, of course, for ABFFE, which continued after ABFFE became part of ABA as the American Booksellers for Free Expression. When I became ABA’s COO, there was only one choice to succeed me at ABFFE, and that person was Chris. There is no one--and I mean no one--with greater knowledge and expertise in all things related to free expression and the First Amendment than Chris Finan. Booksellers and ABA have been most fortunate to have had him as our advocate all these years, and to say we will miss him is a big understatement. But we understand that this opportunity with NCAC was one that was difficult to pass up, and we wish him the best."

Finan became the president of ABFFE in 1998. The organization merged with ABA in 2015, and was renamed ABFE. Finan joined the NCAC Board of Directors soon after he started with ABFFE, and later served as chair for several terms. He is also currently the chair of Media Coalition.

"I’m immensely proud of the role that booksellers have played in maintaining civil liberties during some very dangerous times for free speech. It’s been a great privilege to work on their behalf," said Finan.

As ABA reviews the best way to organize ABFE moving forward, Teicher said that the ABA's 'commitment to these issues remains central to everything we do. First Amendment/free expression matters will remain at the forefront of what ABA is all about."

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