Cineplex, Canada’s largest theatre chain, operates 168 cinemas and entertainment venues and employs more than 10,000 people nationwide. It now has a new leader. Bill Walker, former Landmark Cinemas Canada lead, has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), taking over the role from Ellis Jacob, as the company considers a potential sale.
Last October it was reported the company sold digital place-based media division, Cineplex Digital Media for $70 million in cash to Creative Rsealities, but still operates Cineplex Media, its media and advertising division.
Check out Cineplex Media profile in the Media Marketplace to learn more about their products and solutions that help advertisers.
Access our exclusive written and audio recaps as part of the Media Marketplace - helping media buyers make better, smarter, faster decisions — and look like rockstars to clients and bosses.
After more than three decades as CEO building Cineplex into an industry leader, Jacob will serve as a special advisor until year-end to assist with the transition and strategic review.
During his nine-year tenure at Landmark, Bill played a key leadership role in the brand’s sale to Kinepolis in 2017 and subsequently continued to lead the Canadian business under Kinepolis’ public company ownership.
As streaming services eroded theatre revenues, Cineplex increasingly relied on entertainment venues such as The Rec Room and Junxion. In December 2019, it announced plans to sell itself to U.K.-based Cineworld PLC for $2.8 billion. However, the deal fell through before it was completed.
