TORONTO – Corus’ management team has undergone an extreme makeover, Cartt.ca has learned.
In a note to staff late last week, president and CEO John Cassaday said that the changes are intended “to streamline decision-making and clarify roles and mandates”. The company undertook an internal review after announcing a new management committee on May 10, 2010.
When asked for confirmation and clarification of the changes, a Corus spokesperson forwarded a short statement and declined further comment.
“Corus Entertainment recently implemented a number of structural changes to its Television, Radio and Corporate divisions”, the statement read. “As a result, some functions have been impacted, affecting just over 1% of the organization’s workforce. These changes are part of the company’s on-going objective to ensure the organization is structured to deliver effectively on future opportunities and positioned for long term success.”
Sources told Cartt.ca that on the TV side, Erica Benson, VP programming for Movie Central, Encore Ave and Scream will be leaving the company in August, and Susan Ross, the former EVP and GM of Corus’ specialty and pay television group, will be leaving in November. Ross’ interim title is VP, strategic planning for Corus Television.
Under the leadership of Hal Blackadar, executive vice president and interim president of Radio, the Radio division is adopting a new organizational structure, as follows:
– Cheryl Bechtel, vice president, controller: She reports to Hal Blackadar and Tom Peddie, executive vice president and chief financial officer;
– Dave Farough, vice president, brands and programming: His mandate includes overall responsibility for programming, brand and format decisions including setting standards for programming excellence, and oversight of the on-air talent pool in Ontario and Western Canada. Farough reports to Blackadar;
– Jack Hoeppner, national director, engineering reports to Blackadar;
– David Huszar, vice president and general manager, interactive and emerging platforms is responsible for interactive content at Corus Radio and delivery of content on emerging platforms and reports to Farough.
Western Radio
– Garth Buchko, general manager, Corus Radio Winnipeg: CJOB 68, 99.1 Groove FM (CJGV) and Power 97 (CJKR).
– Neil Cunningham, director of sales, Corus Radio, Western Canada is responsible for both national and retail sales throughout Western Canada including co-ordination of sales strategies such as pricing, inventory management and training for Western Canada and Ontario, reporting to Doug Rutherford;
– Garry McKenzie, general manager, Corus Radio Vancouver: AM730 All Traffic All The Time (CHMJ), CKNW AM 980, Classic Rock 101 (CFMI), 99.3 The FOX (CFOX) and Corus Radio Network (CRN).
– Doug Rutherford, vice president and general manager, Corus Radio Alberta: Calgary’s AM 770 (CHQR), Q107 (CFGQ), Country 105 (CKRY), and Edmonton’s 630 CHED, iNews880 (CHQT), CISN COUNTRY 103.9 and 92.5 JOE FM (CKNG).
Ontario
– Suzanne Carpenter, vice president and general manager, Corus Radio, Eastern Ontario, and vice president and general manager, CHEX TV and CKWS-TV: Her mandate includes overall responsibility for Collingwood’s 95.1 The Peak (CKCB), Barrie’s FM 93 (CHAY) and B101 (CIQB), Peterborough’s 100.5 KRUZ FM (CKRU) and THE WOLF 101.5 (CKWF), Kingston’s Lite 104.3 FM (CFFX) and FM96 (CFMK), Cornwall’s AM 1220 (CJUL), Variety 104.5 (CFLG) and Rock 101.9 (CJSS), as well as the conventional television stations CHEX TV Peterborough and Oshawa, and CKWS-TV Kingston.
– Victor Giacomelli, director of sales, Corus Radio, Ontario. He is responsibile for both national and retail sales throughout Ontario including co-ordination of sales strategies between Ontario and Western Canada.
– Michael Harris, general manager, CKWS-TV and CHEX TV reports to Suzanne Carpenter;
– JJ Johnston, general manager, Corus Radio Cornwall, Kingston and Peterborough: Cornwall’s AM 1220, Variety 104.5, and Rock 101.9, Kingston’s Lite 104.3 FM and FM96, and Peterborough’s 100.5 KRUZ FM and THE WOLF 101.5.
– Chris Pandoff, vice president and general manager, Corus Radio Toronto and Hamilton: Toronto’s 102.1 the Edge (CFNY), Q107 (CILQ) and AM640 Toronto Radio (CFMJ) as well as Hamilton’s AM 900 CHML, Vinyl 95.3 (CING) and Y108 (CJXY).
– Chris Sisam, vice president and general manager, Corus Radio, South Western Ontario: Guelph’s CJOY and Magic 106.1 (CIMJ), Kitchener’s 107.5 DAVE FM (CJDV) and 91.5 The Beat (CKBT), Woodstock’s Greatest Hits 103.9 FM (CKDK) and London’s AM980 (CFPL-AM), The New 103.1 Fresh FM (CFHK) and FM96 (CFPL-FM).
– Lars Wunsche, general sales manager, Corus Radio Toronto:
