Originally published in the March 14, 2024 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Steve Jones will assume the role of President of Stingray Radio as Ian Lurie transitions to serve as Executive Chairman. Set to take effect April 1, Lurie will step back from day-to-day operations to focus on developing and supporting the senior management team. Jones, who has most recently held the title of SVP, Brands and Content, will lead Stingray’s radio corporate teams, general managers and directors across the country as he assumes responsibility for all aspects of the business. Steve Parsons will be promoted to VP of Programming, while retaining his role as General Manager of the Toronto operation. Parsons will oversee brands, content, and overall programming strategy for Stingray’s 101 stations across the country. Andy Boyd, currently VP of Finance, will be promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Jane Krindle to Senior Director of HR, while Ryan Shortt is upped to Senior Director of Digital. Mark Russett is also raised to Senior Director of Sales for Ontario and will continue to lead Ottawa operations. Read more here.
Frédéric Perron has been appointed President and CEO of Cogeco and Cogeco Communications, succeeding the retiring Philippe Jetté. Perron moves up from the position of president of Cogeco Connexion, Cogeco’s Canadian broadband business. The company says the appointment follows a board-led succession planning process with Jetté continuing to serve as a strategic advisor through the end of August. Perron has been with Cogeco since 2020, bringing a background that includes leading T-Mobile’s consumer business in Poland, executive roles at Vodafone in the UK and the Czech Republic, and serving as SVP, Customer Management and Loyalty at Rogers Communications. Read more here.
Serge Blumenfeld has assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at ZoomerMedia, following the departure of Terence Chan who has resigned to pursue other opportunities. Blumenfeld arrives from UK financial services provider Willis Towers Watson where he was most recently Director of Finance, Global Financial Business Operations. Prior to that, he served as a business analyst at Rogers Communications, among other companies.
Pattison Media has laid off about three per cent of its workforce, encompassing on-air and behind-the-scenes talent in Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg, among other markets. Casualties include Christy & Fraser (Christy Farrell and Fraser Tuff), who initially were heard on Wild 95.3 (CKWD-FM) and 101.5 Today Radio in Calgary, before moving to Vancouver to help launch NOW! radio (CKPK-FM) in that market; Denai Johnson, afternoon drive announcer on NOW! Vancouver; and AJ (Ashley) Pirhonen, the afternoon host at 89.5 JR FM (CHWK-FM) Chilliwack. Alyssa Petryshyn and Luca James have also disappeared from afternoon drive on 94.3 NOW! radio (CHNW-FM) in Winnipeg, in addition to Matt Di Paola, afternoon drive co-host and music director at Wild 95.3 Calgary. Company president Rod Schween told employees that a slow to rebound post-pandemic national advertising climate and challenging ratings are behind the staff cuts. Read more here.
Doug Loepp has moved into the role of Group Creative Lead at Pattison Media, directing Creative teams across four Western provinces. With Pattison Media Kelowna since 2003, Loepp most recently held the title of Creative & Production Director of Non-Metro Markets over the last three years.
Joe Thistel is retiring after more than 40 years in broadcasting. Thistel started his career in 1981 at CFOR Orillia and the Telemedia Sports Network as a creative director and producer. He went on to work with Telemedia for the next two decades, including CJCL 1430, producing and engineering home and away Toronto Blue Jays games, and operating Toronto Maple Leafs broadcasts. He went on to consult on the launch of The FAN 1430 (later FAN 590). Among other career highlights, he served as National Director of Marketing for The Team Radio Network. Thistel was the first programming hire at XM Satellite Radio Canada in 2005, serving as Director, Sports and Talk Programming. He went on to hold the role of Director, Talk Programming for SiriusXM Canada for more than a decade.
Simon Ostler has announced that he’s parted ways with Global News Toronto. Ostler had been with Global Toronto since 2015, holding roles including Supervising Producer, Managing Editor and most recently Executive Producer, overseeing Global News Morning and Global News at 5:30.
Melanie Ng is returning to Citytv Toronto as the midday host of CityNews 24/7. Ng left the morning show a year and a half ago to spend more time with her family after a 12-year run with Citytv as a reporter and anchor.
James Gardner has retired from CFAX 1070 Victoria. Gardner, one of the first broadcasters to transition on-air in 2012, started his run with the station two years earlier as “Sheila Gardner.” His 40+ year broadcasting career started in Wetaskiwin, outside Edmonton, leading to on-air roles at CJCA, KIRK FM, and CFRN, before Gardner relocated to Vancouver in 1987, where he worked with KISS FM, CKWX and CKNW.
Bob Willette is no longer Program Manager for Corus Radio Kingston, following a realignment of Corus’ FM radio leadership. Willette, who had been in the position since 2019, was named Program Director of the Year (Medium Market) in the 2022 Canadian Radio Awards and was a runner-up in 2023.
Morganne Campbell has parted ways with Corus Entertainment after more than 14 years with the company. Campbell had been a Digital Broadcast Journalist with Global Toronto for the past six years. Prior to that she worked as a videographer with Global Kingston and Peterborough and did a stint as a part-time announcer with 101.5 The Wolf (CKWF-FM) and the former 100.5 KRUZ FM (CKRU-FM).
Jeff Storey is now Retail Sales Manager for Evanov Communications’ Toronto cluster, leading efforts for Z103.5 (CIDC-FM), Hot Country 88.5 (CKDX-FM), and CHLO AM 530. Storey was previously with Corus Entertainment for 21 years, starting as a news and program director and going on to hold roles including Senior Manager of Business Operations and Regional Director, based in Hamilton.
Melinda Baker, who previously held the position of General Sales Manager for Evanov Communications in Toronto, has been appointed Manager of Research and Analytics. In the newly-created position, Baker will support both Sales and Programming Management company-wide to develop effective strategies, campaigns, and results. Prior to joining Evanov in 2022, Baker held sales management roles with Nielsen and Cape Cod Broadcasting in Massachusetts.
Hubie von Wutheneau has crossed the street from Corus Entertainment to Rogers Sports & Media London. von Wutheneau had been an account manager with Corus for the past year. He was previously in sales with Bell Media in the market for 17 years.
Jeff Holland is now being heard in afternoons on JACK 96.9 (CJAQ-FM) Calgary, in addition to KiSS (CHBN-FM) Edmonton. Holland was previously heard in the Calgary market on Pattison Media’s 101.5 Kool FM, prior to joining Rogers Sports & Media in 2018.
Courtney Rae Shutter has moved from middays to mornings on 106.1 The Goat (CKLM-FM) Lloydminster. With the station for the past two and a half years, Shutter previously co-hosted mornings on Kraze 101.3 (CKIK-FM) Red Deer.
Nina Sturm has joined The Podcast Exchange (TPX) as Senior Client Partner. Prior to joining TPX, Nina held the position of Head of TV and Digital Partnerships at the Canadian Traffic Network (CTN). She’s also worked as an account executive with Torstar, Rogers Sports & Media and Metroland Media.
Brian Hetherman of Toronto’s Cerberus Management & Consulting has been hired by Canadian Music Week (CMW) to handle international programming for this year’s conference, June 3-5. Hetherman, who continues to operate his labels, Curve Music and Sonic Envy, will work alongside CMW president Neill Dixon and the CMW team, to bring top names and topics to the music industry conference.
