Ellis Jacob, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian giant of the Cineplex exhibition, announced her intention to retire at the end of 2026.
“After a thoughtful reflection, I salute this next chapter. For decades, I have focused on the fact of Cineplex a large Canadian company, and I go ahead with immense pride of what we have built for generations of Canadian moviegoers who come to us for these magical Escape moments which can only be found in a real theater experience”, declared Ellis in a Friday declaration.
Before the acquisition of famous players in 2005 and the creation of Cineplex Entertainment, Jacob was president and chief executive officer of Cineplex Galaxy. In 1999, he co -founded Galaxy Entertainment and before this alliance Atlantis Communications as a consultant.
From 1987 to 1998, Jacob held positions within Cineplex Odeon, including COO. He also has profound links with the main Hollywood studios as the main line suppliers to the 172 cinemas and entertainment places based on location that are part of the Cineplex circuit in Canada.
“I remain determined to work with the board of directors and the talented team of Cineplex during this transition period and I have unshakable confidence in the brilliant future of Cineplex,” added Jacob.
The potential release of Jacob de Cineplex was prevented in 2020 when the owner of Regal, Cineworld, canceled his planned takeover of $ 2.1 billion from the Canadian exhibitor while the coronavirus pandemic closed the circuits of the main exhibitors of the industry.
Jacob and the leaders of Cineplex then had to take measures to survive the pandemic impacts and subsequent disturbances of the content supply following the actors and writers of Hollywood 2023, before riding more recently the restoration of the industry’s box-office to restore the fortune of the company.
This understood that Jacob was a major supporter of the cinematographic experience while Hollywood majors debated the shortage of the theatrical window and even going directly to their emerging streaming platforms with movies outings in the middle of the pandemic.
With its release scheduled for December 31, 2026, Jacob will remain at the head of the largest exhibitor in Canada and will help the transition to a new leadership. “The Board of Directors is delighted to recognize Ellis, who has built Cineplex Inc. in the past four decades in one of the best world cinema operators and family entertainment centers,” said the chairman of the board of directors of Cineplex, Phyllis Yaffe in a press release.
As a pioneer of industry, Jacob received a tribute prize to the Canadian Screen Awards 2025 and, in 2022, was honored by the National Association of Theater Owners with the NATO 2022 brand price in Cinemacon.
He also received the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, the best Canadian civic prices.
