CBC News has announced the appointment of two new Senior Managing Directors: Mervin Brass for CBC North and Ruth Zowdu for CBC’s Ontario Region, effective Oct. 19. Brass, who has been managing editor for CBC North for the last four years, becomes the first Senior Managing Director for the North, which was previously grouped with Manitoba and Saskatchewan, under the purvue of John Bertrand. Brass will continue to be based in Yellowknife, overseeing all local programming for stations in Yukon, N.W.T. and Nunavut. Zowdu, who has been managing editor of CBC Ottawa since 2016, succeeds Marissa Nelson, who left the public broadcaster in July to work as a senior consultant with Minneapolis-based market research firm, Magid. Read more here.
Matthew Wreggitt has been promoted to Program Director for Evanov Radio Group’s (ERG) flagship station, Z103.5 (CIDC-FM) Orangeville, ON. Wreggitt joined the station in its early days as Hot 103.5 almost 24 years ago as a programming and promotions assistant while still attending Loyalist College. Most recently Music Director and APD, in addition to holding down the afternoon drive shift, Wreggit adds the PD title to his duties. He replaces Paul Evanov, who became President and CEO of ERG, following founder Bill Evanov’s passing earlier this year.
Deb James has joined Bayshore Broadcasting as the new Station Manager for 97.7 Max FM (CHGB-FM) Collingwood-Wasaga Beach, beginning Nov. 2. James was previously a Program Director and announcer with Corus’ stations in Barrie/Collingwood. She’s also hosted mornings on 107.5 Kool FM (CKMB-FM) Barrie, and been an on-air host with RogersTV Barrie, among other stops.
Tim Kucharuk, who has been a reporter and anchor for CKRW The Rush Whitehorse for the past 11 years, has left radio after two decades. Kucharuk is now the Press Secretary for the Yukon Party, the Official Opposition in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. Kucharuk, who is originally from Kamloops, has also previously worked in Hinton, Wainwright and Penticton.
Maham Abedi is joining CBC News as Senior Producer, Digital. Abedi was most recently Supervising National Online Journalist, News Planning with Global News. She’d been with Global since 2017.
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) has elected eight new directors to its board as part of CFC’s Commitment to Change and Anti-Racism, which includes a focus on more diverse representation. Effective immediately, the new additions are: Ana Serrano, President & Vice-Chancellor, OCAD University; Anne Loi, Executive Vice President, M&A and Chief Commercial Officer, WildBrain; Clement Virgo, Director, Co-Founder, Conquering Lion Pictures; Neishaw Ali, Partner, President and Executive Producer, SPINVFX; Raja Khanna, CEO & Co-Founder, Dark Slope; Dr. Shirley Cheechoo C.M., Chancellor, Brock University & Founder and Artistic Director, Weengushk Film Institute; Stéphane Cardin, Director, Public Policy, Canada, Netflix; and Tassie Cameron; Co-Founder, Cameron Pictures. 10 other board members have departed.
Jackie Dean was named the new Chair of the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Board at the association’s Annual General Meeting. Dean is the COO and interim co-CEO of Music Canada.
