Natacha Mercure has been officially named Executive Director, Audio and Radio, for Radio-Canada.

Mercure, who has held the position on an interim basis since January, has been with Radio-Canada since 2000. Initially joining the public broadcaster as a web developer, she went on to hold leadership roles within the Digital Services and Radio teams, including Head of Production and Digital Content for ICI PREMIÈRE; Director of Radio-Canada.ca; Senior Director, Digital Strategy and Creative Services; and most recently, Senior Director, Digital Audio Strategy and Content, overseeing podcast and audiobook production.

“Natacha is the architect behind our Radio-Canada OHdio platform and its impressive growth since launch,” said Radio-Canada Executive Vice-President Dany Meloul, in an announcement. “She’s been central to our digital strategy for years, working closely with the ICI PREMIÈRE and ICI MUSIQUE teams. She’s the perfect fit to lead our radio division, whose news and cultural mandate is more critical than ever for French-speaking audiences across Canada.”

She succeeds Caroline Jamet in the role, who joined Cogeco Media as president in February.

Mercure acknowledged in the announcement that she’s taking up the position in a challenging time for media.

“Our radio services are thriving. ICI PREMIÈRE holds a strong position in all the markets it serves, ICI MUSIQUE has more than doubled its listenership in recent years, and consumption of our podcasts and audiobooks is growing rapidly among Canadian francophones,” said Mercure. “Listeners from coast to coast to coast are increasingly enjoying the plentiful offerings on Radio-Canada OHdio. I’m aware of the challenges we face in the current media landscape, but I have complete confidence in our team, whose exceptional talent and unwavering dedication ensures we deliver the best possible service to French-speaking Canadian listeners.”