Jean La Rose and APTN, the network he’s helmed as CEO for the last 17 years, will part ways at the end of the year when his contract expires. La Rose joined APTN as CEO in 2002, just four years after it was granted a national broadcast licence. La Rose helped the organization develop into an IP-based, multi-platform broadcaster and established APTN service in eastern, western and northern communities. He also chairs the board of First People’s Radio which launched ELMNT FM stations in Toronto and Ottawa last fall. The board will launch a formal search to identify its next CEO in the coming weeks. Read more here.
Amir Nasrabadi is the new Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the DHX Media animation studio in Vancouver. Nasrabadi will join the team in the newly-created role June 10 reporting to DHX president Josh Scherba. Most recently, Nasrabadi was EVP of Finance and Operations for Illumination, known for producing global hits like Despicable Me, Minions, The Grinch and Sing. Prior to that, he was SVP of Production at Paramount Animation, and before Paramount, worked for 15 years with The Walt Disney Studios, where he was VP Finance and Operations for DisneyToon Studios and in 2009, launched and ran Pixar Canada in Vancouver.
Ross MacLeod, program director at JACK 96.9 (CJAQ-FM) Calgary, is joining Big 105.9 (WBGG-FM) Miami as PD. MacLeod has been with Rogers Calgary since last August following a three-year stint as PD with 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM) Toronto. Prior that he was with Bell Media’s Calgary radio stations.
Blair Bartrem has signed on to Virgin Radio (CJFM-FM) Montreal. Bartrem was PD at Q107 (CILQ-FM) Toronto for 12 years, up until he was caught up in layoffs at Corus in March of 2018. Bartrem previously worked worked at CJFM-FM, as operations manager and PD for the Standard Radio Montreal cell, encompassing what was then Mix 96, CJAD and CHOM, from 1996-2003. Brand director Mark Bergman, who had been with the station since 2000, recently exited.
Sandi Coleman is retiring as host of A New Day on CBC Radio Yukon after 16 years. A Fanshawe College grad, Coleman started her career with CFQC-TV Radio and Television in Saskatoon in 1978, and then CKY TV Winnipeg. She joined CBC Winnipeg in 1984 as host of Information Radio Noon, with stints to follow hosting TV series Breakaway, 24 Hours Almanac, and Coleman & Company. She went on to serve as the supper hour weather specialist from 1997-2000. Coleman left CBC to host call-in show Watercooler on 680 CJOB for a year, before heading to Yukon in 2003.
Bruce Cowan is retiring after a 47-year career in TV broadcast engineering. Cowan’s career started at Rogers Cable TV, followed by 31 years at Citytv/CHUM Television and over 10 years with Corus Entertainment. Cowan was instrumental in engineering aspects of Citytv and the launch of CHUM specialty channels including MuchMusic and CP24. He also worked on the design of CIVI-TV Victoria, Ottawa’s Market Media Mall, and helped launch Canada’s first OTA digital TV service (CITY-DT). Additionally, Cowan was part of the broadcast technical design team behind the Corus Quay facility in Toronto and Global TV Master Control in Calgary. His last day was Apr. 16.
Jessica Nordlander, former head of business development at Google in the Nordic Countries, is joining BC-based tech startup Thoughtexchange as VP, Operations. Nordlander joins the intelligence software company as it prepares to raise $20 million in a Series B investment round. Recently named Sweden’s Most Innovative Leader, she was previously Chief Digital Officer for global travel group STS Education, and managing director for Meltwater.
Leah Holiove has announced she’s getting out of radio. Holiove has been with 107.7 Pulse FM (CISF-FM) Surrey since 2016, most recently as morning show co-host, alongside Neil Morrison. Holiove has previously worked as a traffic anchor for News 1130 (CKWX-AM), Global BC and AM 730 (CHMJ-AM) Vancouver, and served as a panelist on Shaw TV’s That’s What You Think.
Fred Lee has announced that after more than 15 years, his Stepping Out segment on CBC Radio’s Early Edition in Vancouver has come to an end. Known as Vancouver’s “man about town”, Lee will continue to contribute to the Vancouver Province and Vancouver Magazine. He also serves as director of alumni engagement at UBC.
Tarah Schwartz, who left CTV News Montreal after 18 years at the end of December, has a new job as director of Communications, Media, and Marketing for Plank. Plank is a Montreal-based creative agency specializing in digital projects.
Alex Cooke has joined CBC Nova Scotia as a reporter/editor. Cooke is one of a handful of reporters caught up in layoffs at The Canadian Press in February.
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