Barry Jenkins Biography
Barry Jenkins
Chairman
Cinema Exhibitors Association
Barry Jenkins has had a long and distinguished career in the UK film exhibition industry for more than forty years, working for Classic Cinemas, Cannon Cinemas firstly as Technical Director, Managing Director and then Group Managing Director.
He joined the main board of the Cannon Group in 1985 where he negotiated the purchase of the Star Group of Cinemas and Thorn EMI Screen Entertainments. In 1986 he was appointed Group Managing Director of all thirty eight companies in the UK. During the period June 1991 until February 2001 he held different senior board positions with MGM Cinemas. He led the buy out of ninety cinemas from the Virgin Group and helped to amalgamate ABC Cinemas with Odeon. Barry was deputy chairman of Odeon between 2000 and 2001.
Throughout his career he has held the highest positions in the major industry groups and which he continues to maintain a leading presence; 1991 he has served on the Executive Board of the CEA where he is chairman; 2002 Chairman of the All Industry Marketing Group; 2001 – Chairman of Film Education; Chairman of British Film Festivals; 2005 a Trustee of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.
In June 2007 he was awarded the OBE for his services to the Cinema industry.