It was with enormous sadness that the Association learnt today of the passing of Steve Wiener, founder and long-time CEO of Cineworld Cinemas and a central figure in the recent history of the UK cinema sector.
Steve spent over forty years in the cinema industry and 19 at the helm of Cineworld, a company with its origins in his founding of Cine UK in 1995 following his departure from Warner Bros.
With the acquisition of the UK assets of UGC in the early 2000s, Steve saw the company double in size. Before his departure in 2014, he also oversaw in 2012 the acquisition of Picturehouse Cinemas.
Those of us lucky enough to know and work with Steve will remember his easy-going manner but also his incredibly sharp business mind.
Commenting on Steve’s passing, UK Cinema Association Chief Executive Phil Clapp said:
‘The response to the sad news of Steve’s passing from all quarters of our industry speaks volumes about the extent to which he was liked, admired and respected by everyone with whom he worked or did business.
The recurrent themes of those tributes are ones of kindness, honesty and integrity coupled with enviable business acumen and intelligence.
Steve was a towering figure in the recent history of the cinema sector not just in the UK but more widely, and many of the innovations he pioneered have shaped the experience of cinema-goers to this day.
Our deepest condolences go to his wife Jenny and to all of this family and friends.’