Follows announced departures of Sandra Collins and Kelly Wilhelm
TORONTO and MONTREAL — The Canada Media Fund announced today it is restructuring its leadership as the result of the departure of two senior leaders at the CMF – chief operating officer Sandra Collins, who is leaving in September 2022 after 15 years with the organization, and former chief strategy officer Kelly Wilhelm, who left in late 2021 to return to working in federal politics.
The CMF has developed a strategy to grow Canada’s screen-based industries and an Equity and Inclusion Strategy during the last two years, “following in-depth consultations with industry leaders and content creators representing the full diversity of the country,” according to the CMF’s press release announcing its leadership restructuring.
“[A] new leadership team will be the driving force behind the CMF’s new content-centric, platform-agnostic program model, which aims to build on what the CMF heard from the industry,” the release reads.
The CMF’s new program model will include “a more strategic focus on Interactive Digital Media, along with improved data analysis and new metrics to influence decision-making” to ensure the CMF “is well-placed to become a global content fund, supporting Canadian content that resonates with audiences around the world,” the release says.
“The CMF is restructuring its executive leadership, as the organization embraces change and prepares to respond to the needs of Canada’s screen-based industry now and as the future unfolds,” said Valerie Creighton, president and CEO of the CMF, in the press release.
“With this restructuring, the CMF will be better positioned to focus on talent development, content development, and market development ensuring the wide diversity of our storytellers is front and centre. Content is our true north star,” Creighton said.
“I have guided the Canada Media Fund through restructuring in the past and I know that change doesn’t always come easy, but I am privileged to have a fantastic team of skilled, talented, and experienced people at all levels of the organization that have shared their ideas and vision for the future of the CMF. This is an opportunity to build on the CMF’s long-standing support of our industry, to deliver innovative and inclusive ways to showcase Canadian talent, and to get the CMF future-ready.”
In the area of content strategy and business development, two newly created leadership positions have been announced by the CMF.
Nathalie Clermont (above, second from right) is now executive vice-president of content strategy and business development. She was previously CMF’s vice-president of programs and business development. She has worked for more than 30 years in the screen-based industry, with extensive experience in financing as well as policy and program development.
“She will lead the development and implementation of strategies and new models for the audiovisual sector, enabling the CMF to meet the needs of the industry more adequately, now and into the future,” the CMF’s release says.
Rod Butler (above, centre) has been announced as CMF’s new vice-president of content and regulatory. Most recently, Butler was director of programs and policy at the CMF. Since joining the organization in 2014, Butler has helped shape all CMF programs, according to the release.
“A trained lawyer, Rod will be responsible for further developing the CMF’s content funding policies and advising on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the CMF.”
Three new directors will be appointed to work with Clermont and Butler for English content, French content and interactive digital media content, according to the release.
The CMF announced Mathieu Chantelois (above, left) is the organization’s new executive vice-president of marketing and public affairs. Previously, Chantelois was vice-president of communications and promotion at the CMF.
“An accomplished journalist and marketing executive, Mathieu has led the implementation of award-winning marketing and communications initiatives, including the Seek More campaign and the CMF’s recent rebranding. Mathieu will lead the Communications team, public affairs outreach, and marketing initiatives, and will work closely with the Growth and Inclusion team,” the release says.
Tamara Dawit (above, second from left) has been appointed as the CMF’s new vice-president of growth and inclusion. She is an award-winning Ethiopian-Canadian producer and arts organization leader “with extensive experience in project management, policy, and organizational planning,” the release says.
Dawit joined the CMF in 2020 and “has since successfully led the implementation of the organization’s Equity and Inclusion strategy,” the release says. “Tamara will continue leading the organization’s inclusion strategy with a renewed focus on growth.”
A newly hired director of growth and inclusion will support Dawit, the release says.
“Since I joined the CMF nearly two years ago, we’ve positioned inclusion as not only a business imperative, but as part of our core CMF values,” Dawit said in the release. “Intersectional Inclusion is a critical driver for our industry’s growth. The Canadian screen sector is made stronger through the participation of diverse creators and their stories. I’m proud to be a champion for these voices.”
Finally, in the area of finance and analytics, Richard Koo (above, right) has been appointed vice-president of analytics and strategic insights.
“Richard heads TV and digital measurement initiatives at the CMF and has over 20 years of experience in the Canadian media industry,” the release says. Data will play an increasingly important role in the CMF’s decision-making processes. “This department will incorporate the work currently overseen by the Industry and Market Trends team, which is responsible for the Key Trends Report.”
The CMF is currently conducting an executive search for the position of executive vice-president of finance and analytics. The search for this new position will be held “with an emphasis on a Finance, Innovation and Analytics skill set,” the release says.
“Recruitment firms will be contracted to lead the searches for the new positions and will have a mandate to ensure candidates from diverse communities are sought and encouraged to apply,” the release reads.
“I’m excited for the future of the CMF and our industry. Congratulations to the new senior management team,” Creighton said.
“Together, we will position content at the centre of what we do with new strategies, models, financing tools, and new partnerships to keep Canada’s storytelling successful in world markets. Consultation is in the DNA of the CMF, and we will work with our stakeholders to embrace and celebrate change in the screen-based industry, as we prepare to become future ready. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”
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Photos borrowed from the CMF’s website.
