The Film Distributors’ Association formed as the trade association to represent film distributors in the UK and Ireland back in 1915. Over that time there have been 25 holders of the prestigious Presidency, with the position most recently occupied by the multi award-winning producer and film industry luminary David Puttnam, who tirelessly advocated on behalf of the sector.

2007–2023 Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE
1999–2006 A F Pierce
1992–1998 J R C Higgins MBE
1978–1992 P Livingstone CBE
1959–1978 M C Morton
1959 A S Abeles
1957–1958 Sir Arthur Jarratt KCVO
1948–1957 D E Griffiths OBE (KT.1953)
1943–1947 R P Baker FCA
1940–1942 S W Smith
1936–1939 D E Griffiths
1934–1935 J Maxwell
1931–1933 S Eckman Jr CBE
1930 J C Graham
1929 A Clavering
1928 C M Woolf
1927 T C Elder
1926 S Rowson MSC FSS
1925 A G Smith
1924 J C Graham
1923 R C Bromhead FCA
1922 H J Boam
1920–1921 F W Baker
1918–1920 E G Turner
1915–1917 A C Lovesy