National CineMedia (NCM), the largest cinema advertising platform in the United States, has named veteran executive Bernadette McCabe as the new Vice President of Exhibitor Relations for both NCM and Spotlight, effective May 5, 2026.
McCabe will succeed industry veteran Jennifer Lupo, who is stepping down on May 4 after dedicating 21 years to the company. The two executives will work closely together over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition for NCM’s exhibiting partners.
McCabe brings a wealth of experience in cinema advertising to her new role. She officially joined NCM following the company’s strategic acquisition of Spotlight Cinema Networks in November 2025. During her tenure at Spotlight, McCabe achieved significant milestones, including expanding Spotlight’s exhibitor network by 20%, overseeing content acquisitions and programming, and managing day-to-day operations for CineLife Entertainment, Spotlight’s event cinema division.
Prior to her time at Spotlight, McCabe led exhibitor partner network development at MoviePass and rose to Senior Vice President of Business Strategy at Screenvision.
In her new capacity, McCabe is tasked with driving continued growth and integrating the combined reach of NCM’s expansive traditional network with the distinct Spotlight network, which specifically caters to luxury, art-house, and dine-in theaters.
“Since beginning my work with NCM, I have been impressed by the considerable power of their partnerships,” McCabe said of her appointment. “I am grateful to be joining such a talented group of professionals, and I look forward to continuing to build on the strong reputation that Jennifer and NCM have already established in this industry.”
The announcement also served as a moment to honor the departing Jennifer Lupo. Adam Johnson, NCM’s Senior Vice President of Operations and Technology, highlighted Lupo’s instrumental role in building NCM into the nation’s premier cinema advertising platform.
“For over 21 years, Jenn helped grow NCM’s robust exhibitor network as we became the largest cinema advertising platform in the US. On behalf of the entire NCM team, I want to thank Jenn for her hard work and commitment to our company. She will be dearly missed,” Johnson stated.
Welcoming McCabe to the leadership team, Johnson noted that her deep knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset. “As we continue to expand our exhibitor relationships, we are excited to welcome Bernadette, who is a veteran of the cinema advertising industry and holds a record of success building long-term partnerships with exhibitors across the country.”
Share this post