Cineplex Inc., Canada’s leading entertainment and media company, has announced that longtime President and CEO Ellis Jacob will retire from the company on December 31, 2026.
In the interim, Jacob will continue to lead Cineplex and assist the transition to a new leadership structure, said the company in a news release.
“The Board is delighted to recognize Ellis, who has built Cineplex Inc. over the past four decades into one of the world’s best operators of movie theatres and family entertainment centres,” said Board Chair Phyllis Yaffe.
“Ellis is, quite simply, a giant in our industry. It has been a privilege to work alongside him for many years and we look forward to working with him through this transition.”
The company said Jacob is the recent recipient of the Canadian Cinema and Television (Canadian Academy) Tribute Award at the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards. In 2022 Mr. Jacob was honoured by the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) with the 2022 NATO Marquee Award at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. He is the recipient of numerous other awards and recognition, including the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario.
“After thoughtful consideration, I welcome this next chapter. For decades, I have been focused on making Cineplex a great Canadian company, and I move forward with immense pride in what we’ve built for generations of Canadian movie fans who come to us for those magical moments of escape that can only be found in a true theatre experience,” said Jacob. “I remain committed to working with the Board and the talented team at Cineplex during this transition period and have unwavering confidence in Cineplex’s bright future.”
The company is a top-tier Canadian brand that operates in the Film Entertainment and Content, Amusement and Leisure, and Media sectors. Cineplex offers a unique escape from the everyday to millions of guests through its circuit of over 172 movie theatres and location-based entertainment venues. In addition to being Canada’s largest and most innovative film exhibitor, the company operates Canada’s favourite destination for ‘Eats & Entertainment’ (The Rec Room), complexes specially designed for teens and families (Playdium), and an entertainment concept that brings movies, amusement gaming, dining, and live performances together under one roof (Cineplex Junxion). It also operates successful businesses in cinema media (Cineplex Media), digital place-based media (Cineplex Digital Media or CDM), alternative programming (Cineplex Events) and motion picture distribution (Cineplex Pictures).
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