The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has a new president. This afternoon, AMPAS announced that producer Lynette Howell Taylor will take over the position. Taylor has only been a member of The Academy since 2014, but has previously served three years as vice president and chair of the Awards Committee.
READ MORE: Academy Selects Lynette Howell Taylor And Stephanie Allain As 92nd Oscars Producers
Taylor was nominated in the Best Picture category for “A Star is Born” in 2019. Her other credits include “The Accountant 2,” “The Accountant,” “Captain Fantastic,” “Big Eyes,” “The Place Beyond the Pines,” “Blue Valentine,” “Half Nelson,” and the upcoming Miramax/Paramount release, “Roofman,” which is set to debut at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival She also produced the 92nd Oscars telecast with Stephanie Allain in 2020, which earned her an Emmy nomination.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer noted, “Lynette has been a vital part of the Academy Board of Governors for many years, most recently revitalizing our awards work as chair of the board’s Awards Committee. I so look forward to working with her as our new Academy President, as well as with these incredibly dedicated and strategic board officers. This is an exceptional group of Academy members who will advance the Academy’s mission, support our membership around the world, ensure our long-term financial stability, and celebrate the achievements of the global filmmaking community.”
Taylor replaces Janet Yang, who served three terms. It’s unclear if she ran for re-election for a fourth term, for which she was, in theory, eligible. She served three terms after being first elected in 2022 and had on more remaining. She was not mentioned in the Academy’s release. Howell is the fifth woman to hold the position after Bette Davis (who resigned after two months in 1941), screenwriter Fay Kanin (1979-1983), marketing and public relations executive Cheryl Boone Isaacs (2013-2017), and Yang, a film producer (2022-2025).
The following were also elected to officer positions on the Board of Governors, the group that essentially drives the Academy’s direction alongside the President and CEO.
- Lesley Barber (Music Branch), Vice President (chair, Membership Committee)
- Jennifer Fox (Producers Branch), Vice President (chair, Awards Committee)
- Simon Kilmurry (Documentary Branch), Vice President/Treasurer (chair, Finance Committee)
- Lou Diamond Phillips (Actors Branch), Vice President (chair, Equity and Inclusion Committee)
- Howard A. Rodman (Writers Branch), Vice President/Secretary (chair, Governance Committee)
Board members may serve up to two three-year terms (consecutive or non-consecutive), followed by a two-year hiatus. At that point, eligibility renews for up to two additional three-year terms for a lifetime maximum of 12 years. Officers serve one-year terms, with a maximum of four consecutive years in any one office.
The Board of Governors sets the Academy’s strategic vision, preserves the organization’s financial health, and assures the fulfillment of its mission. For a complete listing of the Academy’s 2025-2026 Board of Governors, click here.
Editor-at-Large Gregory Ellwood is one of the entertainment industry's most respected journalists and critics. Based in Los Angeles, he's the only current awards expert who previously worked on Oscar campaigns at a major movie studio. Over the years, he has written for the LA Times, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Vox, among others. He also co-founded the entertainment news site HitFix, which spawned a legion of influential Emmy and WGA Award-winning alumni.
