Producer Lynette Howell Taylor has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by the organization’s Board of Governors, the Academy announced.
Howell Taylor, currently serving her second term as a governor representing the Producers Branch, begins her first term as president. She previously served as vice president and chaired the board’s Awards Committee for three years.
The board also elected its slate of officers for the 2025–2026 term:
- 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)
Barber and Rodman return as officers. Fox, Kilmurry and Phillips are serving in officer roles for the first time.
“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,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer. “I so look forward to working with her as our new Academy President, as well as with these incredibly dedicated and strategic board officers.”
A member of the Academy since 2014, Howell Taylor has produced more than 25 films over the last two decades. Her credits include “A Star Is Born,” which received eight Oscar nominations and earned her a Best Picture nomination, “Captain Fantastic,” “Blue Valentine,” and “The Place Beyond the Pines.” She also produced the 92nd Oscars show in 2020 with Stephanie Allain, for which she was nominated for an Emmy.
Academy board members may serve up to two three-year terms (consecutive or non-consecutive), followed by a two-year hiatus, after which 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.