MONTREAL – Sylvain Lafrance will be filling a newly created role for the CBC and Radio-Canada. 
CBC/Radio-Canada president and CEO Robert Rabinovitch announced the creation of a new executive vice-president’s position for French Services. All CBC/Radio-Canada French-language media lines-TV, radio and web-will therefore report to Lafrance (left).
"I am pleased to be able to hand these new responsibilities to someone with such an impressive track record, clear vision and extensive management skills; Mr. Lafrance has what it takes for this challenge," said Rabinovitch in the press release. “As vice-president of radio de Radio-Canada, Mr. Lafrance is overseeing a major expansion of our radio networks, which have consistently captivated a growing audience while strengthening their public- service roles.
Lafrance also chairs the board for the arts and entertainment specialty channel ARTV. In addition, he was an important player behind the CBC/Radio-Canada’s new media unit, which he has headed up for four years.
Rabinovitch feels it is an opportune time to create the position, according to the release. "We are taking advantage of a period in which our new media, TV and radio networks are experiencing significant audience success through distinct, relevant programming. We plan to help the media lines grow even more consistently by capitalizing on their individual strengths and providing francophones with more comprehensive, high-performance services for an ever more demanding public,” he said.
These changes will affect the French networks only. "We do not believe that such developments in English Services are called for. As a result, we have no plans to make similar structural changes to our English Services,” said Rabinovitch.
The new role combines the duties of the two French media-line vice-president positions currently held by Lafrance (radio) and Daniel Gourd (television). The impetus for this administrative restructuring process began this past June when Gourd announced plans to leave his position once his mandate is up in November 2005.
"We will develop an overall view of French services across the country, while respecting the distinct personality of each media line,” said Lafrance. “I believe that the public broadcaster’s fundamental role is to improve the quality of democratic and cultural life for our fellow citizens. We must base strategic directions for our French-language services and all resulting programming on this conviction."
Lafrance will officially begin his new functions when Daniel Gourd retires.
Rabinovitch thanked Gourd for all of his work at SRC.
