Imax CEO Richard Gelfond has begun a temporary medical leave of absence to undergo treatment for pneumonia, the company announced on March 30. He will skip upcoming events including CinemaCon next month in Las Vegas. Senior executives are managing daily operations under board chairman Darren Throop.
Imax announced that its chief executive, Rich Gelfond, is progressing in his recovery from pneumonia but will not participate in any public or private company events while receiving care. The 70-year-old Gelfond, who joined Imax in 1994 as co-chairman and became CEO in 2009, stepped away to ensure focus on his health. The company issued the statement to provide transparency and prevent speculation ahead of industry gatherings like CinemaCon, set for April 13 in Las Vegas. Imax senior executives, including CFO Natasha Fernandes, chief marketing officer Anne Globe, chief legal officer Rob Lister, and president of Imax Theatres Mark Welton, are handling day-to-day responsibilities. They are coordinating with each other and board chairman Darren Throop, who maintains regular communication with the full board. “We have a strong, deeply experienced senior executive team who are fully engaged, providing regular updates to the board, and remain focused as always on the continued growth and success of Imax,” Throop said. “We are all wishing Rich well and a full and speedy recovery.” Imax cited strong 2025 box office performance of $1.2 billion from films like “F1,” “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” and “Sinners.” The company eyes $1.4 billion in 2026 with releases including Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three,” and “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”