He replaces Cheryl Boone Isaacs.

John Bailey

Cinematographer John Bailey has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Bailey was chosen by the Academy’s board of governors on Tuesday night (8 August) and succeeds outgoing president Cheryl Boone Isaacs.

Bailey’s cinematography credits include Ordinary People, American Gigolo and Groundhog Day. In 2014 he received the American Society of Cinematographers lifetime achievement award.

He is currently an Academy board member representing the cinematographers’ branch, where he is serving his fourteenth year on the board. As president he will work alongside Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.

The board also elected new officers, they are:

  • Lois Burwell, first vice president (chair, awards and events committee)
  • Kathleen Kennedy, vice president (chair, museum committee)
  • Michael Tronick, vice president (chair, preservation and history committee)
  • Nancy Utley, vice president (chair, education and outreach committee)
  • Jim Gianopulos, treasurer (chair, finance committee)
  • David Rubin, secretary (chair, membership and administration committee)

Gianopulos, Kennedy, Rubin, Utley were re-elected to their posts but this will be the first officer stint for Burwell and Tronick. 

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 in any one office.

Next year’s Oscars will take place on March 4 2018 at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.