London, July 28 : Veteran actress Helen Mirren's director husband Taylor Hackford has been appointed as the president of the Directors Guild of America.

The Oscar winning director has stepped into the shoes of Michael Apted to represent the union for film and TV directors across the U. S. after being voted by his fellow members at the Hollywood headquarters on July 25, reports the Daily Star.

Hackford has landed the top post at a difficult time, after a four-month writers'' strike crippled the industry last year (08).

There is expected to be new contract negotiations with studios in 2011.

Hackford has been a DGA member since 1974 and became a member of the board in 2002, becoming third VP in 2005.

His films include Ray, An Officer And A Gentleman, Dolores Claiborne, Proof of Life and The Devil's Advocate. (ANI)