Cineplex Launches Strategic Review, Hires Goldman Sachs and TD Securities; Names New CEO

Canadian movie theater operator Cineplex Inc. launched a strategic review that may lead to a sale, the company said Wednesday, September 23, 2026. It hired Goldman Sachs and TD Securities to advise on the process. Bill Walker, former CEO of Landmark Cinemas, was named chief executive effective immediately, replacing Ellis Jacob, who has led the company since 2003. Jacob will serve as a strategic adviser to the board. Cineplex, Canada's dominant theater owner, previously agreed to be acquired by Cineworld in 2019, but the deal collapsed amid heavy pandemic-era losses. Jacob had been contacting peers including Cineworld and Cinemark Holdings to gauge takeover interest, Bloomberg News reported in April.