TORONTO — Corus Entertainment announced changes to its executive leadership team and business operating structure, which it says are designed to accelerate advancement of its strategic priorities to own more content, engage audiences and expand into new and adjacent markets.
As part of its business restructuring, Corus is bringing all of its broadcast networks under one umbrella to facilitate innovation and collaboration across its TV, radio and digital platforms, Corus said Thursday in a news release announcing the changes.
“These changes are an important milestone in our ongoing transformation of Corus,” said Doug Murphy, president and CEO of Corus Entertainment, in the news release. “They underscore our commitment to continuously optimize Corus’ powerful portfolio, with a structure built to increase focus on winning with our media business in Canada and growing our content business domestically and internationally. Today’s announcement brings new opportunities to our talented team and creates value for our audiences, clients and shareholders as we position the company to explore new opportunities.”
With the consolidation of the company’s portfolio of broadcast networks, Troy Reeb (pictured on right) has been promoted to executive vice-president of broadcast networks and joins Corus’ executive leadership team. In addition, regulatory and government relations will report jointly to Reeb and Corus’ executive vice-president and general counsel Dale Hancocks. (In a follow-up email to Cartt.ca, a Corus spokesperson explained that Daniel Eves, who becomes senior vice-president of networks, will continue to oversee Corus’ specialty TV networks and will now also oversee the Global Entertainment portfolio, including Global Television and Global Go. Ward Smith, who becomes senior vice-president of Global News, will now have oversight over all news and AM radio operations, including linear and digital content. Both Eves and Smith will report to Reeb.)
Other changes to the company’s executive leadership team include the promotion of Colin Bohm to the position of executive vice-president of content and corporate strategy. In addition to his current leadership of strategy and business development, Bohm’s role now includes oversight of Corus’ original content teams, including Nelvana, Corus Studios, Kids Can Press and Toon Boom. This move will maximize strategic growth opportunities for Corus content, both domestically and internationally, the company said. (In the role of senior vice-president of strategic partnership, Maria Hale will now report to Bohm, and will bring an increased focus on deepening relationships with key strategic partners in addition to her ongoing accountability for content acquisition, the Corus spokesperson clarified.)
In addition, Greg McLelland, executive vice-president and chief revenue officer, will expand his role to include marketing and Corus’ Social Digital Agency (so.da), in addition to his current leadership of sales, content distribution, research and consumer insights, and data and advanced advertising (Also, Dervla Kelly, as senior vice-president of marketing and head of so.da, will now report directly to McLelland). McLelland’s team will be aligned on maximizing audiences and revenue, and exploring new opportunities for creative production, both for Corus’ internal brands and its clients, the company said.
The roles and accountabilities of other members of the Corus executive leadership team remain unchanged, the company said.
“The tangible results of our plan are starting to emerge,” CEO Murphy said. “Winning schedules on Global and our specialty networks this past fall, the strides we’re making in content production, digital, and advertiser-buying innovation, and the launch of new lines of business are all contributing to our momentum. We are doing the right things to optimize and maximize what Corus does best as we build for the future.”
