TORONTO – Former VJ, television and music executive Denise Donlon has been hired by the CBC to head up its radio division.
She will take up her role as executive director of radio, effective September 29, 2008.
Donlon, 52, is former president of Sony Music Canada and vice-president and general manager of CHUM Television’s MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic, and is one of the country’s best-known media executives, although she has focused much of her recent attention since departing Sony in 2004 on various international environmental and humanitarian initiatives.
"Denise is without question one of the broadcasting industry’s most talented and dynamic organizational leaders," said Richard Stursberg, executive vice-president of CBC English Services, in the official press release. "She is both a proven administrator and team builder and a champion of creativity, artistic excellence and social responsibility. Her media experience and knowledge will complement and strengthen the mandate of CBC Radio, which is to engage all Canadians through its unique position as a non-commercial national public radio service."
"I’m delighted to join CBC, as I’ve always believed in a strong and vibrant public broadcaster," said Donlon in the release. "CBC Radio is on a tremendous roll right now, launching exciting new programming that is engaging and meaningful to diverse audiences, reflecting all Canadians. These are exciting times and I believe CBC Radio is well-positioned to enhance its reputation as the country’s best and most vital radio service."
Throughout her career, Donlon has initiated projects that have often brought together music, journalism, social issues and human rights advocacy. She has promoted media literacy among young people and in 1993 was awarded the first Peter Gzowski/ABC Canada Award for Literacy. That same year, her MuchMusic team won a Gemini Award for Best Special Event Coverage – Election Night 1993 for Vote with a Vengeance, which raised political awareness among new voters.
After more than a decade at Much (where she started on-air as a VJ) Donlon left to become president of Sony Music Canada and after four years there she left and has since lent her support and production abilities to a variety of projects including Live 8, CBC’s Tsunami Concert of Hope, the inaugural Green Living conference main stage, the President Clinton Foundation Birthday Event, which raised over $21 million in one evening for poverty alleviation, people living with HIV/AIDS and to combat climate change. She was appointed to the CHUM board of directors in 2005.
Three times (1994, 1995, and 1997) Donlon was named Broadcast Executive of the Year at the Canadian Music Week Industry Awards. In 1997 she was the recipient of Toronto’s Women in Film & Television Outstanding Achievement Award. In 2001, Donlon received the Wired Women’s Woman of Vision Award and the Canadian Women in Communications Woman of the Year Award. She was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002 and in 2005 was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. She holds two honorary law degrees from the universities of Waterloo and Calgary.
