Harvard Media Executive Vice-President George Leith has parted ways with the company as he heads back into the software business.
Leith joined the company in April 2023 as EVP and Managing Partner, responsible for overseeing day-to-day business, while also holding a seat on the board of directors. He told Broadcast Dialogue he’ll be joining an American company for a yet-to-be revealed opportunity.
Prior to joining Harvard, Leith worked with Saskatoon-headquartered software company Vendasta for a decade. Formerly the publisher behind the ag-focused Prairieland Publishing Group, he started his career in local radio with Golden West Broadcasting’s CJYM 1330 Rosetown and 1210 AM (CFYM-AM) Kindersley where he worked in sales and as a play-by-play announcer, before working his way up to morning drive and program director, among other roles.
At the time of Leith’s hiring, Matt Hill, President & CEO of Harvard Diversified Holdings, heralded his arrival as leading “the Harvard Media digital evolution at a time when we are experiencing exponential growth on a national scale.”
Under Leith’s leadership, Harvard acquired SaskToday.ca from Glacier Media, extending the company’s reach into 13 additional communities. During his tenure there were also several rounds of restructuring as Harvard moved forward with a digital-first business model, including “strategic staff reductions” in November across its markets.
“I wish the company all the best and thank Matt Hill for the trust that he gave me over the past two years,” said Leith. “But the pull to go back into the software business was just too strong. I spent 10 years working in that space and that’s where I’m at.”
“I very much believe in local media. It’s the connective tissue to our communities. Companies like Harvard are vital,” he added. “We’ve worked hard over the past two years, but the call to join my friends in the U.S. is just too strong.”
Leith will also be stepping down as president of the Saskatchewan Association of Broadcasters, a role he had held since September.
