Lynette Howell Taylor Elected President of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Lynette Howell Taylor Elected President of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Howell Taylor’s extensive experience with the Academy includes previously serving for three years as vice president and chair of the Awards Committee.

RMN News Entertainment Desk
August 2, 2025

LOS ANGELES, CA – Producer Lynette Howell Taylor has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by the organization’s Board of Governors. Her election marks the beginning of her first term as president, occurring during her second term as a governor representing the Producers Branch.

In addition to Howell Taylor’s election, the Board of Governors also elected other officers for the 2025-2026 term:

• Lesley Barber (Music Branch) was elected Vice President and will chair the Membership Committee. Barber was re-elected as an officer.
• Jennifer Fox (Producers Branch) was elected Vice President and will chair the Awards Committee. This marks Fox’s first officer stint.
• Simon Kilmurry (Documentary Branch) was elected Vice President/Treasurer and will chair the Finance Committee. Kilmurry is also beginning his first officer stint.
• Lou Diamond Phillips (Actors Branch) was elected Vice President and will chair the Equity and Inclusion Committee. This is Phillips’s first officer stint.
• Howard A. Rodman (Writers Branch) was elected Vice President/Secretary and will chair the Governance Committee. Rodman was re-elected as an officer.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer expressed enthusiasm for the new leadership, stating, “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”.

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Howell Taylor’s extensive experience with the Academy includes previously serving for three years as vice president and chair of the Awards Committee. She became an Academy member in 2014. Over the past two decades, she has produced more than 25 films, including critically acclaimed works such as “A Star is Born,” which garnered eight Oscar nominations and earned her a Best Picture nomination.

Her other notable film credits include “The Accountant 2,” “The Accountant,” “Captain Fantastic,” “Big Eyes,” “The Place Beyond the Pines,” “Blue Valentine,” “Half Nelson,” and the upcoming feature “Roofman”. In 2020, she also produced the 92nd Oscars show with Stephanie Allain, for which she received an Emmy nomination.

Academy board members can serve up to two three-year terms, which can be consecutive or non-consecutive. After these terms, they must take a two-year hiatus before their eligibility renews for up to two additional three-year terms, with a lifetime maximum of 12 years.

Officers serve one-year terms and are limited to a maximum of four consecutive years in any single office. The Board of Governors is responsible for setting the Academy’s strategic vision, preserving its financial health, and ensuring its mission is fulfilled.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is home to a global membership of over 11,000 film industry artists and leaders. Its mission is to recognize and celebrate all aspects of moviemaking through renowned awards, including the Oscars.

The Academy also leads in conservation, preservation, and exhibition of film-related materials through its vast collection and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which presents exhibitions, screenings, and programs. Furthermore, the Academy aims to inspire young artists and create opportunities for underrepresented communities within the film world, connecting global audiences through their shared passion for cinema.