CCR People

BCE Inc. chair and CEO Jean Monty abruptly resigned April 24, causing many to question the telecom giant’s future television, print, and Internet convergence strategy. Monty was the architect of Bell Globemedia. Michael Sabia, most recently BCE president and COO, replaces Monty as CEO, while Richard Currie becomes non-executive chair. Johanne St-Arnauld has been appointed director of the new commercial distribution branch at the National Film Board. Assuming the new position May 13, she will be responsible for the development, implementation and management of commercial distribution for all NFB productions, in all languages and markets. She was until recently director of international relations, and served as acting executive director at Telefilm Canada from July to December 2001. Also, André Picard begins his duties as director general of the NFB’s French program on May 6. Sheila de La Varende has been appointed interim director of international relations at Telefilm Canada. She assumes on May 1 the position previously occupied by Johanne St-Arnauld. While taking on new duties, she will continue to oversee the management of the corporation’s European office in Paris. The Canadian Cable Television Association announced its 2002-03 board of directors at its annual convention in Vancouver on April 16. Board members are: Edward S. (Ted) Rogers and John Tory, from Rogers Communications Inc.; Jim Shaw and Ken Stein from Shaw Communications Inc.; Louis Audet from Cogeco Inc.; and John Bragg from EastLink. As well, each region is represented by a member of a small cableco. They are: Jacques Perron (Coopérative de Câblodistribution de Arrière Pays), Warren Ritchie (Norcom Cablevision Ltd.), and David Baxter (Westman Communications Group). Ron Perrotta joins Cogeco Cable as VP marketing and sales for the Ontario and Quebec divisons. Doug Ackhurst is resigning as general manager of The Fan in Toronto. Before his departure, he will assist in the integration of the sports radio station into the radio division of Rogers Communications Inc. Jean Pierre Lefebvre has been elected president of l’Association des réalisateurs et réalistrices du Québec. He replaces outgoing president Roger Cantin. Fil Fraser, past president and CEO of Vision TV, has been named president of the international jury for the 23rd Banff Television Festival. Shane Kinnear has been appointed VP of sales and marketing at the Shaftesbury group of companies. Rob Malcolmson has rejoined the broadcasting, telecommunications and new media law group at Goodmans LLP in Toronto as partner. He was most recently president of Headline Media Group Inc., owner of the Score and PrideVision specialty television networks. Malcolmson was a partner at Goodmans before joining Headline Media. Susan Kay has left the Canadian Public Affairs Channel (CPAC), where she was spokesperson. Jannat Hamid, the former VP of Canadian Women in Communications, becomes chair of the board of directors of the newly emerged Women in Leadership Foundation. The non-profit foundation aims to promote leadership, diversity and showcase careers for women in various industries across the nation. Michael Abramsky has joined Canaccord Capital Corp. as a software and wireless analyst. Previously, he was CEO with Toronto-based dot com startup BuyBuddy.com Inc. and CEO at Rogers Communications Inc.’s new media unit. Alan Goluboff was re-elected president of the Directors Guild of Canada in Vancouver on April 21. It is his third term with the national labour organization representing personnel in the motion picture industries. The other members of the 2002-03 national executive are: VP George Chapman (representing productions); secretary-treasurer Manny Danelon; and department representatives Marc Voizard (directors), Avrel Fisher (assistant directors), and Michael Cates (locations); Nancey Pankiw (art); and Barry Gilmore (editing).

CCR People

News | 04/25/2002 4:00 am EDT

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