OTTAWA – The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has hired Kevin Desjardins as its new president, effective immediately.
Desjardins had previously served in communications, members’ services and public affairs roles at the CAB from 2005 to 2007 and returns to the association after more than seven years at the Canadian Dental Association. He has previously also served at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and the Canadian Conference of the Arts. He also served for six years on the board of directors of the Government Relations Institute of Canada.
“We are very happy to welcome Kevin back to the CAB and to the broadcast industry,” said Bell Media’s Lenore Gibson, chair of the CAB Board of Directors. “Kevin is an accomplished association leader, with a wealth of experience in federal advocacy and communications. We look forward to working with him to raise the profile of the sector and pursue a more fair and sustainable future for private radio and broadcast in Canada.”
Desjardins comes to the group at a crucial time as Canada’s broadcasters have recognized its time rebuild their collective presence in Ottawa and are putting some additional resources behind that effort. The CAB has been without a president for quite some time and the members want Desjardins to revitalize the organization in the face of many challenges for broadcasters. The CAB’s de facto president Sylvie Bissonnette (officially the association’s CFO and vice-president of finance and administration) is retiring this month.
“Private broadcasters are facing a number of issues that have been exacerbated by Covid-19,” said Corus Entertainment’s director of regulatory law and public policy and chair of the CAB’s hiring committee, Matt Thompson, when the CAB began its search in the summer. “Most notably, across Canada, we have continuously provided critical local news, information and entertainment to Canadians while our advertising revenues have been decimated by the economic shutdown.”
“In addition to advocating for short-term relief to ensure small and medium broadcasters do not close as a result of Covid, we will be advocating for longer-term policy changes that allow Canadian private broadcasters to successfully compete in a global industry, and continue supporting Canadian content. In particular, the CAB will ensure that any federal review of the Broadcasting Act fosters a Canadian media, content development and broadcast ecosystem that is equitable, sustainable and reflective of voices across the country,” Thompson added.
“I have always believed that broadcasters are essential connectors in their local communities, and are increasingly innovative enterprises that can contend on the global stage,” said Desjardins in the press release. “While the sector faces many challenges, I look forward to serving and representing the CAB’s members as we address these issues now and in the years to come.”
