Retirement announcement
Longtime Cinema United veteran Mitch Neuhauser is set to retire following CinemaCon 2028. Neuhauser has served as the prominent face of the exhibitor-studio conference, regularly kicking off presentations onstage and organizing the event since 2009.
Cinema United President and CEO Michael O’Leary praised Neuhauser’s contributions to the organization and the wider exhibition community, noting his pivotal role in mounting CinemaCon’s return in August 2021 as pandemic-related restrictions eased and streaming competition heavily impacted theatrical releases.
Neuhauser’s career in the entertainment industry spans 45 years, beginning in 1981 with Sunshine Group Worldwide where he eventually became vice president. He oversaw events such as ShowEast, Cinema Expo, CineAsia, and ShoWest before joining the National Association of Theatre Owners—now known as Cinema United—in 2009 to spearhead the transition from ShoWest to CinemaCon.
Leadership transition
To manage the transition leading up to 2028, Cinema United announced that Matt Pollock will immediately assume the role of Co-Managing Director of CinemaCon alongside Neuhauser.
“Matt is the perfect choice to assume this important role,” O’Leary stated, pointing to Pollock’s experience working alongside Neuhauser for nearly two decades.
Neuhauser expressed confidence in the future leadership, stating that the global theatrical industry will remain in strong hands. CinemaCon is next scheduled to take place from April 12-15, 2027, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.