Cinema United, the world’s largest trade association representing global exhibition, announced today that Mitch Neuhauser will retire following CinemaCon 2028. Neuhauser has overseen the growth and development of exhibition’s premier annual event, CinemaCon, since 2009. Under his leadership, the show continues to grow in popularity and evolve as the world’s greatest platform for exhibition and distribution to come together and celebrate the magic of movies on the big screen.

“It is impossible to overstate what Mitch means to Cinema United and the entire exhibition community. He is synonymous with CinemaCon, and it simply would not have become the spectacular event that it is without him,” said Cinema United President and CEO, Michael O’Leary. “Mitch loves this industry, the people in exhibition and the studios, and the experience of seeing a movie in a theatre. His vision and leadership will be missed, but I want to join everyone in the entertainment industry in congratulating him on an amazing career.”

“Working in this incredible industry for the past 45 years has been the dream of a lifetime, capped off by bringing CinemaCon to fruition in 2011,” Neuhauser said. “Our industry is unlike any other. We bring people together from all around the world, and that has inspired me across all these years. Knowing that Michael O’Leary and Cinema United are also recognizing the important contributions of Matt Pollock, who I’ve worked with for almost two decades, gives me great satisfaction. CinemaCon, Cinema United and the global theatrical industry will be in great hands when the baton is passed in 2028.”

Neuhauser began his career in 1981 with the Sunshine Group Worldwide, where he ultimately became Vice President following the company’s purchase in 1998 and oversaw ShowEast, Cinema Expo, CineAsia, and later ShoWest, beginning in 2001. Neuhauser joined Cinema United (formerly the National Association of Theatre Owners) in 2009 and spearheaded the transition from ShoWest to CinemaCon in 2011. Under his guidance, CinemaCon has become a global phenomenon drawing participants from around the world each year. Neuhauser served on the Board of Directors of the Will Rogers Motion Pictures Pioneers Foundation and received the Heart of Show Business Award from Variety of Southern California in 2018.

Cinema United also announced today that Matt Pollock will immediately assume the role of Co-Managing Director of CinemaCon and begin the transition of taking over the lead position in 2028.

“Matt is the perfect choice to assume this important role. He has all the qualities necessary to ensure that CinemaCon continues to grow and evolve into the future,” added O’Leary. “Making him Co-Managing Director today illustrates the confidence that I, along with the entire exhibition industry, have in Matt. I am also pleased he will work closely with Mitch through this important transition.”

Hosted by Cinema United, CinemaCon is the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition, with the 2027 show taking place April 12-15 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

About Cinema United
Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 33,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens internationally. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and X/Twitter.