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REVOLVING DOOR:
Guy Laurence, president and chief executive officer of Rogers Communications stepped down on Oct. 17 after less than three years at the helm. The company announced at the same time that he’ll be replaced by former Telus head Joseph Natale, even though Natale has a non-compete agreement with Telus that does not expire until next summer. Laurence came to Rogers from Vodafone UK with a mandate to fix Rogers’ customer service problems. Long-time chairman Alan Horn was named interim CEO.
Corus Entertainment has finalized the lineup of its original content team, nine months after the acquisition of Shaw Media. VP of original content is Lisa Godfrey. Krista Look will oversee Corus’ portfolio of channels in the role of director, original content, women and lifestyle division. Maria Farano takes the role of manager, original content, women and lifestyle. Lynne Carter will also take the role of manager, original content, and be responsible for food-related content. Andrea Griffith, Larissa Laycock, Marni Goldman, Debbie Brown, Jenny Tryansky and Brad Clarke will all serve a production executives on the women and lifestyle team. John MacDonald remains SVP of content for women and lifestyle. Rachel Nelson is director of original content. Robin Neinstein is now manager, original content, scripted and factual. Craig Baines and Andrew Johnson will both serve as production executive, original content, factual, while Susan Alexander serves as production exec on the scripted side. Deirdre Brennan is VP content, Corus Kids. Robyn Hutt, who was hired in September 2015 as director of factual, is no longer with the company.
Randene Neill is leaving her position as morning host on Global BC in two weeks for an opportunity outside the journalism industry. She made the announcement on-air on Oct. 19. The departure follows the decision to eliminate the position of fellow Global morning anchor Steve Darling. Global says the two moves are unrelated. Neill has been with the station for 18 years, the majority of that time as anchor of the Noon News.
David Shepheard is the first film commissioner for the city of Vancouver. He led the film commission services for Film London in the UK since 2013. The Vancouver Economic Commission created the position after two consecutive record years of activity in the film and television industry in the city.
Tami Coughlan has been named head of sales and partnerships at Pelmorex Communications/The Weather Network. Previous to this, she was managing director, strategic solutions and content at Star Metro Media, associate publisher and sales director for The Kit as well as various positions at Star Metro Media and Toronto Star.
James “Gruff” Gushnowski has been named director of programming for the Blackgold Broadcasting chain. The position also includes a move to Leduc, AB where he takes over as program director and afternoon drive host at 93.1 The One (CJLD-FM). Gushnowski was most recently morning show host and operations manager at 88.1 The One (CKSS-FM) in Stony Plain, AB. His first day on air was Oct. 18.
Susan Knight, morning show host of the Big Breakfast at Q103.1 Kelowna, has added APD duties to her role. Knight has been with the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group station since June 2014.
Neil O’Brien is no longer traffic anchor at Vancouver’s all traffic station AM730 (CHMJ) due to restructuring, effective Oct. 11. O’Brien debuted on AM730 in 2008, first with Canadian Traffic Network (CTN) and then as a Corus employee for the last four years. He worked traffic for CKWX News1130 starting in 1996 after 5 years as a board op with Rhona Raskin’s love, sex and relationships program, first at Z95.3 (CKZZ-FM) and later at then 97 KISS-FM (CKKS-FM) Vancouver.
Lisa Blackburn, former CBC reporter and current reporter and editor for Broadcast Dialogue, was elected to Halifax City Council on Oct.15. Blackburn was a broadcast journalist for over 25 years, co-hosting morning shows on both the Q104 (CFRQ-FM) and Lite 92.9 (CFLT-FM). She left CBC, announcing her candidacy on Aug.1 and will be sworn in as a councillor on Nov. 1.
