Leon Hildebrandt has announced his retirement as Executive Vice President of Canadian Broadcast Sales (CBS) after 40 years with the company. Hildebrandt started his career as a media buyer for Coke in the mid-1970s at McCann Erikson, and later joined what was then Standard Broadcast Sales in Oct. 1980. He’s been EVP since 1992. Over the years, he’s served as president of Canadian Association of Broadcast Representatives (CABR), Paul Mulvihill Charitable Foundation, chaired the Ruth Hancock Scholarship Fund and served on the board of the Broadcast Executive Society. Hildebrandt’s retirement takes effect June 30.
Alex Brown is leaving CTV Morning Live in Winnipeg to co-host and anchor CTV Morning Live Saskatoon. Brown joined CTV Winnipeg as a traffic reporter in Oct. 2018. Prior to that, she was the on-the-go reporter for Regina’s CTV Morning Live broadcast.
Siobhan Morris is leaving Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) Toronto to join CTV Barrie as a videographer and producer. Morris has been with Newstalk 1010 since 2012 as a reporter and anchor.
Thomas Richards has been appointed to the BCE board of directors. Richards most recently served as Executive Chairman of CDW until his retirement in Dec. 2019, and was previously the tech company’s President and CEO. Following its Annual General Meeting, BCE also announced the appointment of Sheila Murray as Director, succeeding Sophie Brochu, who announced in April she would not seek re-election following her appointment as CEO of Hydro-Québec. Murray is the former President of CI Financial Corp. and currently Chair of Teck Resources Limited.
WIFT-T (Women in Film and Television – Toronto) has announced its 2020-21 Board of Directors. Joining the board for a first term are: Argie Eliopoulos, Director, Partnerships and Events, Canadian Film Centre (CFC); Tanya Green, Head of Animated Series, Sinking Ship Entertainment; Terry E. Markus, Lawyer, Independent Business & Legal Affairs Consultant; Cailyn Michaan, Marketing Manager, Media and Experiential Marketing (XM), Walt Disney Studios; and Karen Walton, Screenwriter/Executive Producer, Inkling Entertainment. Linda Stregger (Spin Master) now assumes the role of Chair; Susan Alexander (Corus Entertainment) was appointed Vice-Chair; Janet Chant (Toronto Blue Jays) was appointed Treasurer, and Sonia Brar (Bell Media) will continue her role as Secretary. Joining the Foundation for WIFT-T Board are Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival and Playback; Carolyn Allain, Account Manager, National Bank of Canada; Argie Eliopoulos, Director, Partnerships and Events, Canadian Film Centre (CFC); and Laura Heath-Potter, Independent Producer.
Dennis Heaton has been re-elected by Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) members as President for a two-year term through April 2022. Vancouver-based Heaton (showrunner Motive, The Order) is joined on the council executive by returning Vice-President Andrew Wreggitt (Fortunate Son) and Treasurer Alex Levine (Orphan Black), who takes over from Mark Ellis (Flashpoint, X Company), who has stepped down after 10 years. Also returning are Michael Amo (Pure), Marsha Greene (Coroner) and Anne-Marie Perotta (Big Top Academy). Lienne Sawatsky, Toronto-based co-creator and executive producer of Teletoon animated series Wishfart, also joins the council.
