Shaw Communications Inc. CFO Vito Culmone is leaving the company May 4, as part of its business transformation. Trevor English will take on his responsibilities as executive VP, chief financial and corporate development officer. The move comes as Shaw reveals 3,300 employees, or a quarter of the company’s staff, have agreed to voluntary buyouts. The move will cost the company $450 million next quarter, but then save it an estimated $225 million a year.
Gerry Forbes has announced his retirement from CJAY 92 (CJAY-FM) Calgary after 25 years with the station. Forbes, 61, started his broadcasting career in 1975 in Kamloops, eventually landing at CHUM Toronto where he did middays and mornings before moving to Calgary.
Vassy Kapelos has been named the new host of CBC’s flagship daily political program Power & Politics. Originally from Toronto, Kapelos leaves Global News, where she most recently served as Ottawa bureau chief and host of The West Block. Kapelos takes over from Rosemary Barton, who joined the anchor team for The National in September.
There are structure changes at radio within Corus Entertainment. Brad Phillips, who has been VP for Corus Radio West since 2016, has been promoted to vice president and head of FM Radio for Corus Entertainment. Lars Wunsche, Regional Director, Ontario Radio will assume responsibility of all markets in Ontario outside Toronto and Ottawa. Chris Sisam, vice-president of Corus Radio East will exit the company at the end of February.
Charmaine de Silva will take over the role of news director at News 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver in March. de Silva has been CKNW NewsTalk 980’s senior reporter and assistant news director since 2014 and previously an anchor and editor with CBC Radio Vancouver and AM 1150 Kelowna (CKFR-AM).
Mike Samples is retiring from CHCH-TV Hamilton. Samples joined the station in 1988 after transitioning into sales at CKCK-TV Regina after an 11-year CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Trevor Romkey, GM/GSM for Evanov Halifax stations Live 105 (CKHY-FM) and Hot Country 103.5 (CKHZ-FM) is leaving the broadcast industry after a decade with the company. He joins traffic safety tech innovator Site2020, as VP of Sales and COO.
Sheila Walsh, the first female program coordinator of the Radio Humber Diploma program, has announced she’s resigning effective this June. Walsh, who has been in the role since 2010, will remain with the program as a professor.
Patrice Bernier, former Montreal Impact captain, is joining TVA Sports program L’Impact This Week as a contributor. Bernier will comment on news and developments related to Major League Soccer (MLS), starting in March.
Jill Morgan has left CBC Saskatchewan for a communications position with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) in Regina. Morgan had been a reporter and anchor with CBC for the last five years, following a 12-year stint with Global Regina.
Kiah Tucker is taking over the KiSS 104.9 (CKKS-FM) Vancouver drive show. The former JACK 96.9 (CJAX-FM) Vancouver host will slide into the time slot being vacated by Ara Andonian, who is returning to the Okanagan to take over mornings at Beach Radio 103.1 (CKQQ-FM) Kelowna. His last show at KiSS is Friday.
Marieke Walsh is leaving Global Halifax to join ipolitics.ca in Toronto where she’ll cover the Ontario provincial election. Walsh had been with the station since 2014 and was previously with Global as a producer on The West Block with Tom Clark.
