TORONTO – Bell Media will open two new regional production development offices in Vancouver and Winnipeg, the company announced Wednesday.
Bell Media has hired senior industry executive Michele McMahon (pictured) as a development manager to run the new Vancouver office, which is set to open on Monday, Feb. 17.
The office in Winnipeg will open on March 3, and will be headed by new development manager Brandice Vivier.
Both McMahon and Vivier will report to Susan Makela, Bell Media’s director of independent production and Canadian programming management.
“These appointments reiterate Bell Media's commitment to Canada's creative and vibrant independent production community,” said Corrie Coe, SVP of independent production, in a press release.
Prior to joining Bell Media, McMahon spent 10 years with Omnifilm Entertainment, the last five as director of drama development. There, she developed the drama Primeval: New World (Space) and Arctic Air (CBC).
Vivier has worked in the film and television industry for more than 20 years, most recently as senior manager at the National Screen Institute (NSI). Prior to joining NSI, Vivier worked at CTV, where she negotiated development and license agreements for CTV, The Comedy Network, and Discovery, as well as preparing compliance reports for the CRTC.
Based at CTV Vancouver, the West Coast office will serve the production communities in B.C. and the Territories, while the office based at CTV Winnipeg will be the point of contact for producers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. McMahon and Vivier will act as creative executives on projects in development and production and lead community engagement and outreach initiatives.
Bell Media also has an existing regional production development office in Halifax.
