MONTREAL – Quebecor Media’s TVA Group announced Monday the appointment of Patrick Jutras as president of MELS, its film and television production services division, effective Oct. 2.
Jutras will be tasked with accelerating MELS’s growth and strengthening its business relationships, both locally and internationally, to attract even more major productions to its studios and postproduction service facilities, says a press release announcing his appointment.
His new responsibilities will be in addition to those he has held since 2019 as chief advertising officer of Quebecor Media and TVA Group, the release explains.
With more than 20 years of senior management experience, Jutras “has an impressive track record in commercial operations management across Canada, business development, sales & marketing, and communications,” according to the release.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing and international trade from Université du Québec à Montréal and a certificate from Harvard Law School.
“With the proliferation of distribution platforms, content production is booming in all markets,” Pierre Karl Péladeau, acting president and CEO of TVA Group, said in the release. “I am confident that with Patrick at the helm, MELS will be able to seize even more opportunities to shoot blockbusters and foreign series at its studios and maximize business opportunities for its many services, including postproduction. Patrick has distinguished himself on the Quebecor Media and TVA Group management teams, and he will now bring his wide-ranging knowledge and expertise to this key position.”
“I’m delighted and honoured to take on this new challenge,” Jutras said in a statement. “MELS is known the world over for its soundstages, its skilled professionals and its state-of-the-art equipment, including its virtual production stage. In the coming months, my management team and I will be working to maximize MELS’ reach and reaching out to our local and international partners to offer them a level of service unrivalled in the industry. MELS is one of the largest film studios in the world to offer a one-stop film services shop of this calibre. Combined with Quebecor’s rich ecosystem, it gives us everything it takes to succeed in the new age that is dawning.”
With 350 employees, MELS’s range of services include soundstage and equipment rental, virtual production, sound and picture postproduction, distribution, and outside broadcast (OB) vans.
“Every year, MELS’ 20 soundstages and postproduction services are used by hundreds of local and international productions, such as Home Alone, Transformers, Murder Mystery, Midway, Moonfall, Bold Type, X-Men, Scream, Wednesday, CODA, Jupiter’s Legacy, Lost in Space, French Girl, Baby Sitter, Maria Chapdelaine, La Voix, Star Académie, La nuit où Laurier Gaudreault s’est réveillé, and many others,” the release says.
Photo of Patrick Jutras provided by TVA Group.
