Revolving Door

Originally published in the April 6 edition of The Weekly Briefing

Jeremy Clark has been promoted at CPAC to Vice President of Programming Operations and Communications. Clark most recently served on CPAC’s leadership team as Director of Programming Operations and Communications. He’ll now also oversee business affairs, compliance, and regulatory responsibilities.

Anick Dubois, Vice President of Finance, has informed management of her decision to leave TVA Group after more than 15 years with the company. In view of her departure, TVA Group has appointed Marjorie Daoust as VP of Finance. Daoust previously served as Senior Director of Finance, leading a team of over 20 people, and has been with the corporation since 2011. Among other things, she’ll be responsible for the execution of TVA Group’s financial plan.

Simone Lawrence is retiring from Canadian Broadcast Sales, effective April 6. Lawrence has been with the company for 25 years, most recently as Director, Insights. She also served two terms as President of the Broadcast Research Council of Canada over her 16 years as a board member with the organization.

Julie Nolin will fill-in on the anchor desk for Global BC Weekend News Hour at 6 and 11 p.m. as weekend news anchor Sarah MacDonald takes a one-year maternity leave. Nolin has been working with Global News since last September when she joined the network from CTV Vancouver.

Kimberley Fowler has joined CTV Ottawa as a Weekend Anchor & Producer. Fowler previously anchored the morning show on Global Regina. Prior to that, she was an airborne traffic reporter for the Canadian Traffic Network (CTN) in Toronto for 15 years, ending her time there as Director of Operations, Ontario.

Julie Stewart-Binks has struck a brand and content deal with Rush Street Interactive and BetRivers. Stewart-Binks, host of Drinks with Binks on FuboTV, has more than a decade of experience as a sports reporter and host on FOX Sports, ESPN, CTV, Warner Brothers Discovery Sports, NHL and NBC Sports. As part of the partnership, she’ll develop sportsbook, casino and lifestyle content for the brand and bring her interview skills to a new podcast on the BetRivers Network, in addition to making guest appearances on the Boomsies podcast, hosted by Dan O’Toole, and appear as a BetRivers ambassador.

Jeremy Baker has joined the morning show on Surge 105 (CKHY-FM) Halifax, alongside Amy Chabot. Baker was most recently one-half of the morning show on Pattison Media’s 102.7 The Peak (CKPK-FM), up until the company cut its on-air staff in January following the station’s move to HD Radio. Baker takes over the Surge 105 co-host role from Jeff Brown, who suffered a stroke in January on a flight to San Diego. Brown is expected to make a full recovery.

Earle Mader is set to retire from JACK 92.9 (CFLT-FM) Halifax this summer after 46 years in broadcasting. Mader has been the station’s Content Director for the last 11 years. He’s best known for his 30-year run with CHUM Radio in the market, starting in 1980, including stints as Director of Programming and Music Director, as well as on-air. Mader’s last day with Rogers Sports & Media will be Aug. 16.

Lenny Benoit, formerly of Stingray’s CFCB 570, is taking on the role of Station Manager at Bay of Islands Radio (CKVB-FM), the community station in Corner Brook, NL. Dean Clarke, previously the morning man on CKGA Gander, has also joined the station as an announcer, in addition to Tonya Organ, its first dedicated news reporter. The not-for-profit, which is celebrating more than a decade of broadcasting, has plans to apply to the CRTC for a power increase.

Karla Renić has left her Online Web Producer role at Global News Halifax. Renic had been with Global for the past three years, following her graduation from the University of King’s College Journalism program.

Kylee Winn has joined Rogers Sports & Media as a Digital Creator and Content Specialist – Music Brands. Winn was previously in a similar position at Indie88 (CIND-FM) Toronto. She’s also worked with 96.9 Humber Radio (CKHC-FM) as a Brand Coordinator.

William Johnson, who founded the Vancouver Tech Journal in 2018, is leaving the publication. Acquired by Overstory Media Group (OMG), Johnson had been serving as General Manager and Group Publisher of OMG’s tech journals for the last 11 months.

Drew Brown is leaving his position as Editor-in-Chief of The Independent. The founding editor of the publication in Jan. 2019, Brown was formerly a national politics columnist for VICE Canada from 2015-19, with his work also published by CBC, Newfoundland Quarterly, The Deep, and The Guardian. Justin Brake will take over as interim EIC later this month.

Jay Thomson is retiring as head of the Canadian Communications Systems Alliance (CCSA), the industry association representing over 100 independent internet, TV and telephone companies. Thomson, who has served as CEO since 2017, will step down following the association’s annual conference in St. John’s, NL, Sept. 11-13. Prior to joining CCSA, Thomson was Vice-President of Broadcasting and Regulatory Affairs at the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and President of the Canadian Association of Internet Providers. He’s also held senior regulatory positions with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and TELUS.

Sundeep Chauhan has been named President of CONNECT Music Licensing (CONNECT). Based in Toronto, Chauhan will serve as the chief advocate for CONNECT’s members and work to maximize revenue generated from royalties and tariffs. He joins CONNECT from the Motion Picture Association (MPA), where he worked for 11 years in a variety of senior roles, including Vice-President and Senior Counsel, Global Content Protection. Prior to MPA, he was external legal counsel to CONNECT and Vice-President and General Counsel for Re:Sound, among other positions. Chauhan takes over for Jackie Dean, who served as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer since 2002, and was named President in 2021. 

Martin Carrier has been appointed President of the Live Productions Division at Solotech Canada. Carrier, who joins the company from MELS Studios & Postproduction where he served as President the past two years, will take up his new position effective April 24, taking leadership of overall activities related to tours, festivals and local live productions and events in Canada. Martin Chouinard, who previously held the position, will continue with Solotech in a new strategic role of Chief Global Operations and Asset Officer.

Todd Gardner has been appointed Channel Manager, North America at Riedel Communications, and James Skupien and Ben Gabrielson to regional sales manager roles. Gardner takes the helm from Dave Caulwell, who moves into a new position as Regional Sales Director, East. Prior to joining Riedel, Gardner worked for more than 20 years at Grass Valley, where he held various roles including Director of Channel Sales. Skupien, based in Chicago, will serve as Regional Sales Manager, North Central, and Gabrielson, based in Arizona, will serve as Regional Sales Manager, South Central. Skupien was most recently at Vizrt, while Gabrielson was previously a Sales Manager at Evertz and LiveU.

Lisa Haller has joined the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival as Director of Programming. Haller, was formerly a programmer for TIFF for more than a decade, in addition to serving as the Senior Short Film Programmer for Whistler Film Festival and programming the Aspen Shortsfest. She succeeds Jason Beaudry, who parted ways with FIN after more than a decade, in December.

MILESTONE: Control Room Director Maureen Malloy is marking 30 years with Global BC. Since joining the station in 1993, Malloy has worked on several different shows over the years, currently serving as the main director for weekday programming on Global Okanagan.