Originally published in the March 7, 2024 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Corus Entertainment has named Tammy Cole as National Director of FM Programming, as the company announces changes to its FM radio leadership team. Cole will now oversee all Corus FM stations, in addition to retaining her current FM Program Director responsibilities in Toronto. With the change, Regional Program Director Dave Blezard takes over Energy 95.3 (CING-FM) Hamilton, and Program Manager Samantha Payne assumes the role of Senior Program Manager in Toronto, with additional oversight of the Barrie market. Senior Brand Associate Maggie Tulecka will now cover Hamilton stations 900 CHML, Energy 95.3 and Y108 (CJXY-FM) Hamilton. Ekta Patel, currently Promotions Manager in Hamilton and London, takes on the role of National Promotions Director and manages 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM), Q107 (CILQ-FM) and 640 (CFIQ-FM) Toronto. Chelsea Robinson, Promotions Manager in Kitchener and Guelph overseeing 107.5 Dave Rocks (CJDV-FM), The Beat 91.5 (CKBT-FM) and Magic 106 (CIMJ-FM), will add London and Hamilton stations Country 104 (CKDK-FM), 103.1 Fresh (CFHK-FM), Energy 95.3 and Y108 to her promotions portfolio. Lisa Fuoco will take on the newly-created role of National Sales Promotions and Integrations Manager, Audio. Read more here.
Harvard Media has cut several senior positions in its Alberta operation. Those departing the company include X92.9 (CFEX-FM) Calgary Program Director Jim McCourtie, who also held the title of Vice-President, Local Media; Music Director and APD Matt Berry; and Creative Director Darren Ollinger. At Cruz 95.7 (CKEA-FM) Edmonton, morning show host Lochlin Cross and afternoon drive personality Pam Kirby were casualties. Kris Mazurak, who joined the company earlier this year as Director of Local Media & Experience Products, now takes charge of the X brand, while Danny Kid, Vice President of Local Media, overseeing Harvard’s Cruz branded stations and Regina’s 104.9 The Wolf (CFWF-FM), will take on the Play stations. Read more here.
James Lewis has been appointed to the newly-created role of Executive Producer, CP24 and CTV News Toronto. Lewis has been with CTV News Toronto since 2017, initially as the weeknight producer of CTV News at 11:30. He was promoted to senior producer in 2019 and had held the role of News Director since 2022. Read more here.
Francis D’Souza has started a new role at CBC News as Managing Editor of Original Video and Investigative, continuing to oversee The National and now adding The Fifth Estate, Marketplace, the Investigative Unit and About That with Andrew Chang. Since joining the public broadcaster in 2019, he’d been overseeing the direction of flagship network news programs including The National, World at 6, World Report, World this Weekend, World This Hour, and Front Burner, in addition to CBC News specials.
Bo Gordon and Jessica Hoy, the morning show duo released from 101.5 Today Radio (CKCE-FM) Calgary this week, headline changes happening within Pattison Media’s organization. Gordon and Hoy had been paired together in mornings for the last six years. Gordon was laid off just two weeks shy of a previously determined mid-March departure date for another opportunity outside the industry.
Lee Haberkorn has departed afternoons at Virgin Radio (CJFM-FM) Montreal to spend more time with his family. Haberkorn, who also dabbles in real estate, had been with Bell Media since 2014, including a brief stint on-air with Virgin Radio (CFCA-FM) Kitchener.
Cat Divaris is moving on from Central Ontario Broadcasting’s Rock 95 (CFJB-FM) Barrie to concentrate on her family. Divaris had been hosting the morning show alongside Craig Ross since 2015.
Jody Jessome, technical producer at CTV Atlantic, has retired after nearly 45 years. Jessome started with the station while still in high school, holding roles from cameraman to directing and working in the control room.
Keith Johns has retired from CTV Atlantic. Johns had been with the station for the past 39 years, primarily working as a cameraman and editor.
Ahmar Khan is leaving Global News after two and a half years with the national online team. For now, his reporting can be found on his Substack blog, The Dogged Reporter.
Marty Hastings has joined CFJC-TV Kamloops. Hastings was previously with Kamloops This Week and has been freelancing for CBC News.
Mack Lamoureux, Evelyn Kwong, Manisha Krishnan and editor-in-chief Josh Visser are among the Canadian staff who’ve announced their departures from VICE Media, following the release of several hundred employees. The Canadian Media Guild (CMG) has confirmed it’s still representing 27 members at VICE as the company reorganizes. CMG says two of those members were impacted by the layoffs.
Kerry Appleyard has joined eOne as Senior VP of Scripted and Unscripted as Lionsgate reorganizes after acquiring the business from Hasbro in January. Appleyard was formerly Senior Vice-President and Head of Scripted for Canada at Boat Rocker Studios. The changes see Canadian Executive Vice-President Tecca Crosby leave eOne after 12 years. Other moves see Darren Giblin promoted to SVP of Current and Co-productions, with Andrew Kelly taking on the role of VP of Scripted Development and Scott Boyd and Christine Diakos serving as VPs of Unscripted Development.
Briana Carnegie is joining Lead Podcasting as the Toronto branded content company’s new Business Development Lead. Carnegie was previously with Global Toronto for the past five years, holding roles including Network Content Producer and Managing Editor, Online and Radio.
Jamil Jivani is headed to Parliament Hill. The former iHeartRadio talk network host, was elected as the Member of Parliament for Durham in a by-election, the seat previously held by former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole. Jivani parted ways with Bell Media in early 2022 and launched a wrongful dismissal suit against the broadcaster later that year.
Konrad von Finckenstein’s interim appointment as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner has been made permanent. The former Federal Court judge, CRTC Chair and Competition Bureau Commissioner had been serving in the interim role since last September. Von Finckenstein has been appointed to a seven-year term.
