Steve Pamon
IMAXAbout Steve Pamon
Independent director of IMAX since June 2021; age 54; based in South Orange, NJ. Currently President of VERZUZ (digital media), with prior senior roles at Parkwood Entertainment (President & COO), JPMorgan Chase (Head of Sports & Entertainment Marketing), the NFL (VP, Strategy & New Business Development), HBO/Time Warner, and McKinsey. Serves on the Compensation and Governance Committees. IMAX’s Board deems him independent under NYSE and Canadian rules. Attendance in 2024: 8/8 Board meetings and 100% of committee meetings for committees on which he served.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| VERZUZ | President | Not disclosed (current) | Leads talent, programming, production, finance, business affairs, strategic partnerships |
| Parkwood Entertainment | President & COO | Not disclosed (prior) | Oversaw music, touring, artist management, ventures, TV/film; executive producer on award-winning projects |
| JPMorgan Chase | Head of Sports & Entertainment Marketing | 2011–2015 | Led partnerships/marketing across sports and entertainment |
| National Football League | VP, Strategy & New Business Development | 2008–2011 | Corporate strategy and new business initiatives |
| HBO / Time Warner | Executive roles | 2001–2008 | Media operations/leadership |
| McKinsey & Company | Consultant | 1995–2000 | Management consulting, strategy |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herschend Family Entertainment | Director | Not disclosed (current) | Oversight of family entertainment portfolio (Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Adventure Aquarium, Harlem Globetrotters) |
| New York Road Runners | Director | Not disclosed (current) | Governance of non-profit that runs the NYC Marathon |
| World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) | Director (past) | 2020–2024 | Tenure culminated in ~$21B merger with UFC/Endeavor (TKO) |
Board Governance
- Independence: IMAX Board determined Pamon is independent; 9 of 10 directors are independent.
- Committee assignments: Compensation Committee (member); Governance Committee (member). Not a chair. 2025 chairs: Compensation—Kevin Douglas; Governance—David W. Leebron; Audit—Eric A. Demirian.
- Attendance/engagement: Board met 8 times in 2024; Compensation met 2; Governance met 1. Each incumbent director attended all Board and all committee meetings on which they served; Pamon’s attendance was 8/8. Independent directors held seven executive sessions.
- Committee authority: Compensation and Governance Committees operate under written charters and may retain independent advisors; no compensation consultants retained in 2024.
- Term limits/retirement: No term limits; mandatory retirement age 80.
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (independent director) | $50,000 | Standard for non-employee directors |
| Committee member retainers | Compensation: $7,500; Governance: $5,000 | Chair retainers: Audit $15,000; Comp $10,000; Governance $10,000; Lead Independent Director $15,000 (if applicable) |
| 2024 Cash fees (Pamon) | $62,500 | Reflects base + committee roles |
| 2024 Director Compensation (Pamon) | Cash Fees ($) | Stock Awards ($) | All Other ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve R. Pamon | 62,500 | 124,989 | — | 187,489 |
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Equity Vehicle | Grant Date | Grant Value | Shares/Units | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual grant for independent directors) | June 7, 2024 | $125,000 (typical value) | 7,856 RSUs | Vested on grant date | Chairman receives higher grant ($170,000; 10,685 RSUs in 2024) |
- No performance-conditioned director equity (no PSU metrics for directors disclosed); IMAX does not currently award stock options under its equity programs (focus on RSUs), though some legacy NEO options remain outstanding.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Org | Public/Private | Role | Potential Interlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| WWE (past) | Public (past; merged into TKO) | Director (2020–2024) | No IMAX-related interlocks disclosed |
| Herschend Family Entertainment | Private | Director | None disclosed |
| New York Road Runners | Non-profit | Director | None disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Board-identified skills: Deep relationships with the creative community; senior executive experience across leading media/entertainment platforms; experience in management consulting and investment banking; strengthens corporate strategy and financial oversight.
- Brings operating expertise across content production, touring, partnerships, and brand-building in entertainment—relevant to IMAX’s content and alternative programming strategy.
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Beneficially Owned Common Shares | Exercisable within 60 days | Total | % Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve R. Pamon | 27,567 | — | 27,567 | <1% |
| Stock Ownership Guideline | Requirement | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Director ownership guideline (2025) | 400% of annual retainer (raised from 300% in 2024) | Pamon at 810% of retainer as of Apr 1, 2025; in compliance |
- Anti-hedging/anti-pledging: IMAX prohibits hedging and pledging of company stock by directors, officers, and employees.
Related-Party Transactions and Conflicts
- Company review process: Related-party transactions >$120,000 are reviewed for independence and fairness; directors recused from decisions where they have a material interest; no formal written policy, but Board and compliance officers conduct case-by-case review.
- Disclosed items: Related-party disclosure in 2025 proxy cites matters involving Kevin Douglas and Michael MacMillan; no transactions involving Pamon were disclosed.
Governance Assessment
-
Positives supporting investor confidence:
- Independence, relevant operating and strategic expertise in media/entertainment, and service on Compensation and Governance Committees.
- Strong engagement: perfect 2024 attendance at Board and committees served; Board held regular independent executive sessions.
- Ownership alignment: materially exceeds enhanced director ownership guideline (810% vs 400% of retainer); anti-hedging/pledging policy further aligns interests.
- No related-party transactions disclosed involving Pamon.
-
Watch items:
- Director RSUs vest on the grant date, which provides equity exposure but less retention/holding friction than time-based vesting; however, robust ownership guidelines partially mitigate this.
- Related-party framework is case-by-case without a formal written policy, though disclosure outlines rigorous review and recusal practices.
-
Committee effectiveness signals:
- Compensation Committee (where Pamon serves) emphasizes alignment with shareholder value and maintains authority to hire independent consultants; no consultants used in 2024.
- Governance Committee (where Pamon serves) oversees ESG, board composition, and annual self-assessments; supports ongoing board effectiveness.