Netflix has hired Stéphane Cardin, VP of Industry and Public Affairs for the Canada Media Fund (CMF), as its first Canadian employee.
According to La Presse which first reported the news, Cardin will be based in Montreal with his mandate as director of Public Policy for Canada to begin in mid-September. He’ll report to Netflix’s global government relations team in Washington.
Cardin has been with CMF since 2006 and previously oversaw tax credits for Quebec’s Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC).
CMF president Valerie Creighton released a statement congratulating Cardin on the move.
“I am certain that the Canadian screen-based sector will continue to have in Stéphane a staunch ally and supporter and that in his new role, he will continue to be a champion of Canadian production,” wrote Creighton. “We thank Stéphane for his tireless efforts over the past 12 years. He was instrumental in working with CMF management, staff and Board to position the organization for the future and we wish him all the best, as he takes on new and exciting challenges at Netflix.”
Cardin’s Netflix appointment comes amidst controversy, particularly in Quebec, over the fact the streaming giant’s Canadian content spending commitment of $500 million over five years doesn’t provide for a French-language project quota. Quebec’s provincial government has also moved ahead with plans to collect the QST on Netflix subscriptions in Quebec, starting Jan. 1, 2019.
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