Sherak elected president of motion picture academy

Revolution Studios partner Tom Sherak (L) and producer Lawrence Gordon pose at the Paris Las Vegas hotel during ShoWest, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, March 25, 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

LOS ANGELES - Film executive Tom Sherak has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Oscars. The organization's board of governors met Tuesday evening to cast their votes.

Sherak begins his term of office immediately, succeeding outgoing president Sid Ganis, who has served four consecutive one-year terms, the maximum that any Academy member can serve in one office.

The Academy president is elected from among the 43 members of the board of governors, who represent the Academy's branches: Actors, Art Directors, Cinematographers, Directors, Documentary, Executives, Film Editors, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists, Music, Producers, Public Relations, Short Films and Feature Animation, Sound, Visual Effects, Writers.