- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Imax CEO Rich Gelfond Takes Temporary Medical Leave
Gelfond is receiving treatment for pneumonia and will not participate in upcoming events.
Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:18pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Imax's advanced large-format technology plays an increasingly vital role in the movie industry, even as its CEO takes a temporary medical leave.Imax CEO Rich Gelfond has taken a temporary medical leave of absence to receive treatment for pneumonia. The company stated that Gelfond is receiving excellent care and making progress in his recovery, and that the senior management team is executing day-to-day responsibilities in coordination with the board of directors.
Why it matters
Gelfond's temporary leave comes just two weeks before CinemaCon, a major movie industry event where Imax has had an increasing profile in recent years. The company is providing transparency to avoid speculation about Gelfond's absence from upcoming events.
The details
In a press release, Imax said Gelfond will not take part in public or private events during his leave. The company noted that members of the senior management team, including the CFO, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Imax Theatres President, are handling day-to-day responsibilities in coordination with the board of directors.
- Gelfond's temporary medical leave was announced on March 30, 2026.
- CinemaCon, a major movie industry event, is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in two weeks.
The players
Rich Gelfond
The 70-year-old CEO of Imax, who joined the company in 1994 after his firm, Cheviot Capital Advisors, bought Imax. He has been the CEO since 2009.
Darren Throop
The chairman of Imax's board of directors.
Natasha Fernandes
The Chief Financial Officer of Imax.
Anne Globe
The Chief Marketing Officer of Imax.
Rob Lister
The Chief Legal Officer of Imax.
Mark Welton
The President of Imax Theatres.
What they’re saying
“We are all wishing Rich well and a full and speedy recovery.”
— Darren Throop, Chairman of Imax's Board of Directors
What’s next
Imax stated that it will provide updates on Gelfond's condition 'as appropriate'.
The takeaway
Gelfond's temporary medical leave highlights the importance of transparency and succession planning for major corporations, especially in the lead-up to high-profile industry events. Imax's senior management team is stepping up to ensure continuity during Gelfond's absence.
