The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors has re-elected John Bailey as the president of the 91-year-old institution.
Bailey will take on his second consecutive term as president and continues his 15th year as a governor representing the Cinematographers Branch. A few of the academy’s past presidents include Douglas Fairbanks, Frank Capra, Bette Davis, Gregory Peck, Karl Malden and Cheryl Boone Isaacs.
Other officers elected Tuesday evening include Lois Burwell, first vice-president (chair, Awards and Events Committee); Sid Ganis, vice-president (chair, Museum Committee); Larry Karaszewski, vice-president (chair, Preservation and History Committee); Nancy Utley, vice-president (chair, Education and Outreach Committee); Jim Gianopulos, treasurer (chair, Finance Committee); and David Rubin, secretary (chair, Membership and Administration Committee).
CEO Dawn Hudson oversees the staff who conduct the academy’s day-to-day business.
Bailey was elected last year as a call for diversity in the industry was strong and the academy was already enacting initiatives to address inequities in the organisation’s membership. His win was a surprise to many, and when asked why he wanted to take the job, Bailey seemed to consider it as a graduation of sorts.
“I love the academy. I’ve been a member since 1981 and I just found myself slowly over the years becoming more engaged with a lot of the academy’s programmes and initiatives. It seemed like a natural development.”
Bailey’s first term included no small amount of controversy, including the emergence of the ongoing #MeToo movement which resulted in the exile of Harvey Weinstein, Roman Polanski and Bill Cosby from academy membership, and a brief sexual harassment investigation into Bailey himself. Bailey, who denied all accusations, was ultimately cleared and public support for his leadership has not wavered.
Academy board members may serve up to three consecutive three-year terms, while officers serve one-year terms with a maximum of four consecutive years.
