Cinema United elects Mike Bowers board chair

Cinema United, the exhibition trade group formerly known as NATO, has elected Harkins Theatres president and CEO Mike Bowers as chair of the executive board.

Tuesday night’s (October 7) 2025 election marked the first time that all dues-paying members were eligible to vote for the executive board of directors, resulting in what Cinema United representatives said were more votes cast than any other time in the organisation’s 77-year history.

Bowers assumes his two-year term and succeeds previous board chair, B&B Theatres CEO Bob Bagby, who will remain on the executive board representing B&B Theatres. Bowers has been in the exhibition industry for nearly 40 years and has held his position at Arizona-based Harkins Theatres since 2006.

Joining Bowers on the executive board as vice chair will be Cinemark’s EVP and CMO Wanda Gierhart Fearing. Colleen Barstow of Main Street Theatres will become treasurer, and Bo Chambliss of Georgia Theatre Company will continue as board secretary.

“The entire leadership team will bring energy and insight as we continue to drive toward the next great era in cinema,” said Cinema United president and CEO Michael O’Leary.

Those elected to join or re-join the executive board include: (independent seats) Becky Dupuis of Polson Theatres; Paul Gunsky of CineLux Theatres (incumbent); and Lauren McChesney of Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre; (mid-sized circuit seats) Bo Chambliss of Georgia Theatre Company (incumbent); Paul Glantz of Emagine Entertainment (incumbent); and (regional leaders seat) Todd Vradenburg of NATO of California/Nevada.

• New Film4 head Farhana Bhula talks ambitions, producer fee deferrals and winning over youth audiences