British Producer Lynette Howell Taylor Elected Oscars Academy President

Lynette Howell Taylor, a British film producer known for works like "A Star is Born" and "The Accountant," has been elected as the new president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is the fifth woman and the youngest person in 70 years to hold this position, as well as the first non-U.S.-born president in nearly three decades. Howell Taylor has been a vital member of the Academy's Board of Governors since 2014, previously serving as vice president and chair of the Awards Committee, where she was credited with revitalizing the Oscars awards process. She succeeds Janet Yang and begins her first presidential term during her second term as a governor representing the Producers Branch. Alongside Howell Taylor, several new officers were elected, including Lesley Barber, Jennifer Fox, Simon Kilmurry, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Howard A. Rodman, who will support the Academy's mission and financial stability. The Oscars have seen a resurgence in viewership, with nearly 20 million viewers for the recent ceremony, recovering from a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic.