TORONTO – The Canadian Media Producers Association announced it has promoted Liz Shorten to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer.
In this role, she will lead staff and oversee organizational operations across the association’s offices in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, and work to implement the CMPA’s corporate strategic plan, says the association. She was most recently SVP operations and member services at the CMPA’s B.C. producers branch.
“For many years, Liz has been an extremely effective leader for the CMPA in B.C., and has gone above and beyond to execute the mandate of the CMPA’s B.C. producers branch,” said CMPA chair and Shaftesbury SVP, Scott Garvie, in the press release. “She cares deeply about the success of independent producers, as well as the vitality of the industry right across Canada; we are thrilled to have her in this role.”
“Over the past decade, Liz has taken on progressively senior positions within our organization, working tirelessly to advocate on behalf of producers in B.C. and across Canada,” added Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO, in the release. “I look forward to working closely with Liz in her role as COO, to implement a strategic vision that will help grow independent production, resulting in more great stories told on screen for audiences in Canada and around the world.”
“I’m energized by this opportunity to work closely with my talented colleagues across our three offices to implement Reynolds’ vision and that of our board,” said Shorten, in the press release.
Shorten has previously held senior positions at the Ontario Film Development Corporation (now Ontario Creates), British Columbia Film (now Creative BC), and CBC Television. She currently sits on the board of directors of REEL CANADA, and is chair of the Story Money Impact Society, Secretary/Treasurer of the Pacific Screenwriting Program and active in the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of B.C. as Vice-Chair.
She was recently named “Woman of the Year” by Women in Film and Television Vancouver and “Industry Champion” by the Whistler Film Festival.
The association plans to hire a replacement for Shorten’s former position in the coming weeks.
