TORONTO – Kirstine Layfield, CBC Television’s executive director of network programming, has been named a Young Global Leader for 2008 by the World
Economic Forum.
Layfield was among 245 leading executives, public figures and intellectuals under the age of 40 from 65 countries given the honour.
“I feel deeply privileged to be selected as a Young Global Leader and work with a community of committed individuals from around the world to be a voice for our generation,” said Layfield in a statement. “YGL’s amazing networking opportunities will enrich my world view and ensure I have the broadest possible horizons.”
YGL members include several highly placed journalists and broadcasters, including Samantha Powers, foreign editor of Time Magazine; Maria Bartiromo, CNBC anchor and Mathew Bishop, business editor of the Economist.
Other Canadian YGLs selected for 2008 are The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment; Aaron Pereira, founder of CanadaHelps; and Vartana and Eira Thomas, CEO and director of Stornoway Diamond Corp.
Layfield joined CBC in 2006 to oversee the English TV network’s programming strategy.
The 245 YGL were chosen from among 5,000 candidates by a selection committee of 31 international media leaders, including Reuters UK CEO Thomas H. Glocer, The New York Times chair and publisher Arthur Sulzberger and Dow Jones and Company publisher Robert Thomson.
