ODEON Cinemas Group colleagues feature in ‘Top Women in Global Cinema’ and ‘Ones to Watch’ 2018 lists

9 March 2018

On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2018, Celluloid Junkie published two lists recognising outstanding women in the global cinema industry; ‘Top 50 Women in Global Cinema 2018’ and its new ‘Women in Global Cinema - Ones to Watch’ list. Four ODEON Cinemas Group colleagues made the lists.

In the third annual ‘Top 50 Women in Global Cinema 2018’ list, Veronica Lindholm, Managing Director Finland & Baltics is placed number seven and Carol Welch , Managing Director of ODEON UK & Ireland, placed number 12.

As MD Finland & Baltics, Veronica heads up ODEON Cinemas Group’s Finnkino cinema chain in Finland and Forum Cinemas in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, managing a total of 25 cinemas and more than 175 screens across four countries. In April 2017, Finnkino opened the first all-laser cinema in Northern Mainland Europe; Finnkino Omena in Espoo and this year it will be introducing the first IMAX theatre in Finland with the opening of its nine-screen cinema in the Itis Helsinki shopping centre.

Carol Welch was appointed MD of ODEON UK & Ireland in January 2017, managing over 120 cinemas and 950 screens. ODEON has opened seven refurbished ‘Luxe’ cinemas since October 2017 offering luxury recliner seats, a range of new food and drink options and updated technology and sound systems. ODEON was once again placed number 25 in Sunday Times Best Big Companies to Work For 2018 list in the UK; and named 15th Best Place to Work in Ireland.

Kathryn Pritchard, Group Chief People Officer at ODEON Cinemas Group features on the ‘Women in Global Cinema - Ones to Watch 2018’ list. Kathryn has been the Group’s strategic lead on people and integration in Europe since the AMC and Nordic Cinemas Group acquisitions in November 2016 and March 2017 and led the integration programme spanning 14 countries across Europe. Kathryn recently launched the Group’s new long-term strategy to promote diversity and inclusion; ’Our Incredible Differences.’

Linda Stenersen, MD of the ODEON Oslo cinema due to launch 22 March, also features on the ‘Ones to Watch’ list. ODEON Oslo will be the first cinema launching under the ODEON brand in Norway. The cinema will be the largest and only in the world where all auditoria (14 screens) will have laser projectors creating the ultimate viewing experience for guests. The largest is an IMAX hall with IMAX’s proprietary immersive 3D audio and other auditoriums are equipped with Dolby Atmos 3D audio.

Celluloid Junkie is a leading online resource dedicated to the global film and cinema business.