By Ahmad Hathout
CBC has appointed Douglas Smith as its executive vice-president, effective February 2.
Smith most recently worked at Paramount as senior vice-president of streaming and content licensing since January 2023, “where he was instrument in orchestrating the Canadian launches of Paramount+ and Pluto TV,” a Thursday press release said. Prior to that, he was senior vice-president of client relations at Paramount Global.
“He combines rigorous business discipline with a strong ability to navigate teams through periods of industry disruption,” the release added.
“Doug has an extensive track record in the media industry and a deep understanding of the Canadian ecosystem and the audiences we serve,” CBC/Radio-Canada President Marie-Philippe Bouchard said in the release. “We share the ambition to be an indispensable public service for Canadians — to be here for Canada with content that engages, unites and reflects our unique identity and values, while supporting and contributing to the success of Canada’s media ecosystem. Doug brings a unique combination of experience and perspectives that will add value to CBC/Radio-Canada and will enable us to achieve those goals.”
“This is a remarkable honour for me. I have deep respect for the role the national public broadcaster plays in Canada,” Smith said in the release. “The CBC matters because it helps Canadians understand one another, stay informed, and see themselves reflected in the country we are building together. The work ahead is important to strengthen trust, cultural connection, and our democracy. I am proud to have the opportunity to join such a skilled and passionate team, and to contribute to that responsibility.”
Smith has over 30 years of experience in Canadian media, which includes executive positions at CBS in Toronto, head of programming at Rogers, and executive vice-president at Alliance Atlantis starting in the late 1990s, according to his LinkedIn page, where he announced his departure from Paramount late last year.
“I am a Canadian media executive with more than thirty years of experience in linear, digital strategy and streaming leadership,” his LinkedIn bio says. “I have negotiated complex content agreements across ad supported and subscription platforms, and I have led national operations for global brands with responsibility for rights management, business affairs, IT support and large team oversight.
“My background includes library valuations, sales forecasting, organisational reviews, new business strategies and mergers and acquisitions,” it continues. “I bring strong financial discipline paired with practical problem solving.”
Smith fills the role left by Barbara Williams, who is retiring from the public broadcaster.
