# Ellis Jacob

> Ellis Jacob is a Canadian entertainment executive who co-founded Galaxy Entertainment in 1999 and led Cineplex from 2003 until September 2026. His career connects smaller-market cinema development, acquisitions, international-film programming, loyalty partnerships and venues such as The Rec Room. He is Special Advisor to the Cineplex Board through December 31, 2026.

- **Role:** Special Advisor to the Board at Cineplex Inc.
- **Organizations:** Cineplex Inc., Galaxy Entertainment Inc., Cineplex Odeon Corporation, Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., Ford Motor Company, Motorola, Cinema United, Global Cinema Federation, Movie Theatre Association of Canada, Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation
- **From:** Calcutta (now Kolkata), India
- **Nationality:** Canadian
- **Education:** Dawson College, Bachelor of Commerce, McGill University, MBA, Schulich School of Business, York University, Honorary doctorate, OCAD University
- **Known for:** Appointed Member of the Order of Canada in 2010., Recognized with Schulich’s Outstanding Executive Leadership alumni award in 2011., Named Canada’s Most Innovative CEO by Canadian Business in 2013.

## Career timeline

- **1969** — Arrived in Canada for his sister’s wedding and stayed.
- **1976** — Graduated with an MBA from York University’s business school, now Schulich.
- **1987** — Joined Cineplex Odeon; subsequently served as CFO and COO.
- **1998–1999** — Worked on integration at Alliance Atlantis Communications.
- **1999** — Co-founded Galaxy Entertainment, focused on smaller Canadian markets.
- **2003** — Became CEO of Cineplex Galaxy following the combination of Galaxy and the Canadian Cineplex Odeon business.
- **2005** — Cineplex Galaxy acquired Famous Players; its operating partnership was renamed Cineplex Entertainment.
- **2007** — Cineplex and Scotiabank launched Scene.
- **2016** — Cineplex opened the first Rec Room in Edmonton.
- **2018–2020** — Chaired the executive board of the theatre-owners association now called Cinema United.
- **2026-09-23** — Bill Walker became Cineplex CEO; Jacob became Special Advisor to the Board through December 31, 2026.

## Achievements

- Appointed Member of the Order of Canada in 2010.
- Recognized with Schulich’s Outstanding Executive Leadership alumni award in 2011.
- Named Canada’s Most Innovative CEO by Canadian Business in 2013.
- Named Canada’s Most Admired CEO in the Enterprise category by Waterstone in 2014.
- Received the ICTA Global Cinema Innovation Award in 2019.
- Appointed to the Order of Ontario; appointment announced in 2021 for the 2020 cohort.
- Received the NATO Marquee Award in 2022.
- Received the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award at the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards.
- Received the Legend of Cinema Award at CinemaCon in April 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Cineplex appointed Bill Walker CEO effective September 23. Jacob became Special Advisor to the Board through December 31, 2026, assisting the transition and a strategic review that includes a potential company sale; no transaction was announced.
- **2026-04** — Received Cinema United’s Legend of Cinema Award at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
- **2025-06** — Cineplex announced Jacob’s planned retirement at the end of 2026.
- **2025-05** — Honoured with the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute at the Canadian Screen Awards.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ellis-jacob
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20