Former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) officially has landed the role of CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, the group announced Tuesday.

Dodd had been rumored as the job search’s leading man for weeks, but similar deals had fallen through, including one with ex-Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) last year.

Dodd replaces former Agriculture Secretary and ex-Rep. Dan Glickman (D-Kan.), who left MPAA nearly a year ago. Glickman replaced the iconic K Streeter Jack Valenti, who ran the MPAA for decades. The group did not disclose Dodd’s compensation package, but the job reportedly pays from $1 million to $2 million annually.

“I am truly excited about representing the interests of one of the most creative and productive industries in America, not only in Washington but around the world,” Dodd said in the MPAA’s announcement. “The major motion picture studios consistently produce and distribute the most sought after and enjoyable entertainment on earth. Protecting this great American export will be my highest priority.”

He added that “taking this step represents a continuation of my work in the Senate, from advancing the interests of children and families and creating and safeguarding American jobs to the protection of intellectual property and the expansion of international trade.”

He will start his new job on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, and he will be under a two-year lobbying ban from the entire Congress. Studio executives said that it was worth the wait to cast Dodd as their top lobbyist.

“We conducted a thorough search to identify the very best individual to lead the MPAA,” Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Lynton said in the press statement. “We’re convinced we have found that person in Chris Dodd. He is uniquely qualified to represent and protect our industry globally.”