Ramírez Magaña as the First Non-American Personality to Receive Annual NATO Marquee Award
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (April 24, 2018) – Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Ramírez of Cinépolis, the world’s fourth largest cinema exhibitor, today received the 2018 NATO Marquee Award by the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) during this year’s CinemaCon®. The award marks a milestone for NATO and is of great importance for the Mexican film industry, as it is the first time this industry tribute has been granted to a non-U.S. exhibitor.
Held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the award was presented by President of Walt Disney´s Worldwide Theatrical Distribution Dave Hollis. Ramírez Magaña was recognized for his unparalleled dedication, commitment and service to the film industry.
Previously in 2013, Ramírez Magaña was awarded “Best International Exhibitor of the Year” by the same association, a prize his father, Enrique Ramírez Villalón, also received in 1998, making this event something historic. For the first time in the trajectory of the convention, two non-American directors of the same company received recognition.
“As our industry becomes increasingly global, it is necessary that our most important award be given for a truly global exhibitor, with operations on four different continents,” said President and CEO of NATO John Fithian. “Cinépolis offers cinematic magic to millions of people. In a personal level, thanks to his commitment as president of the Global Film Federation, Alejandro has become the leader of a united global industry.”
Alejandro Ramírez Magaña is Chief Executive Officer of Cinépolis, one of the largest film exhibition companies in the world with operations in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, India, the United States, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Central America.
Previously, Ramírez Magaña served as Mexico´s representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and worked for organizations including the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program in the areas of poverty and human development. Currently, Ramírez Magaña is chairman of the Mexican Business Council, the most influential business organization in Mexico, and of the Morelia International Film Festival. He also serves on the Boards of BBVA Bancomer, the Mexican Competitiveness Institute, the Sundance Institute and the Harvard Board of Overseers. In 2005 he was appointed a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and co-chaired the WEF´s annual meeting in 2012. Also in 2012, President Calderon appointed Ramírez Magaña as chair of the B20, the G20’s Business Summit. He holds a BA in Economics from Harvard University, an MSc in Development Economics from the University of Oxford and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Recently, Ramírez Magaña was named President of the Global Cinema Federation (GCF), a group that represents the interests of the world’s major cinema exhibitors in more than 90 cities. NATO and UNIC are the founding trade organizations for GCF with 12 exhibitor chains.