Positive Feedback on Bell Media Moves

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Positive Feedback on Bell Media Moves

Postby jon » Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:57 pm

Cannot speak for other markets, but many of the notable "good guys" who have retired from senior management in Edmonton Radio have applauded (on Facebook) this move at Bell.

Randy Lennox Appointed President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting, Bell Media
CNW Group
8 hours ago

TORONTO, Aug. 25, 2015 /CNW/ - Bell Media President Mary Ann Turcke announced today the appointment of Randy Lennox to the newly created position of President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting, Bell Media, effective immediately.

A veteran entertainment executive with more than 25 years of industry experience, Lennox will oversee all of Bell Media's English independent and in-house entertainment productions for conventional, specialty, pay television, and digital media, bringing the company's production teams together under one leader. Lennox will also oversee all English and French radio and local television broadcasting and their associated digital assets. Reporting directly to Mary Ann Turcke, Lennox becomes a member of Bell Media's Senior Leadership Team.

Randy Lennox is the leading executive in the Canadian music industry. While the business has endured a myriad of technological and marketplace challenges, he has consistently grown market share and revenue through talent acquisition and strategic alliances. As President and CEO of Universal Music, the country's leading music company, he was responsible for more than 50% of domestic and international recording artists, who in total have won 178 JUNO Awards. Some of the Canadian talent he has signed or helped elevate to the international stage include Justin Bieber, Shania Twain, Drake, Hedley, Diana Krall, Nickelback, The Tenors, The Tragically Hip, as well as Canada's newest breakout star, The Weeknd, among others.

Recognized by Macleans magazine for his talent and production work as one of Canada's Top 50 most influential people, Lennox has been an integral part of the production of THE JUNO AWARDS and the MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS for many years. He is also the executive producer for CTV's Vancouver 2010 anthem "I Believe" and is an executive producer with Insight Productions for CANADA'S WALK OF FAME.

"Randy joins us at a pivotal time as the media industry experiences significant change," said Mary Ann Turcke, President, Bell Media. "He brings to Bell Media an unparalleled record of success, a deep understanding of the complexities of the entertainment industry, and a passion for creative multimedia content. We look forward to his expertise in creating new revenue opportunities in television, radio and digital, including building strategic alliances and special, tent-pole events for our key brands."

"Bell Media and Universal Music are the leading companies in their respective industries, so I am delighted to take on this new challenge," said Lennox. "I look forward to working with Mary Ann and the Bell Media team as we enhance our leadership position while growing new strategic opportunities for the business."

Over the past decade, while the music industry has been tackling the biggest challenges in its history - including the shift to digital listening and its monetization - Lennox has delivered the leadership and vision to help Universal Music Canada thrive during this period of change. Universal has been named "Company of the Year" for 15 consecutive years at Canadian Music Week, while Lennox himself has been honoured seven times with the Executive of the Year distinction. He was also named International Executive of the Year by the Worldwide Radio Summit in 2014.

Lennox has been honoured as a member of the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame and sits on board of directors for Music Canada, The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), Canada's Walk of Fame, and the board of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall.

Lennox's philanthropic time and efforts have raised more than $25 million in Canada while increasing the profiles of numerous charities and causes both nationally and internationally. Lennox recently won a Juno Award for Song of the Year for producing "Wavin' Flag," a single that raised more than $2 million in disaster relief funds for Haiti. Lennox is a director of Music Counts and the Smilezone Foundation, a Canadian charity that aims to improve the lives of children facing illness, disabilities, and physical and emotional obstacles.


Four top execs out in Bell Media overhaul
August 24, 2015
Greg O'Brien
CARTT

TORONTO - Bell Media has parted ways with four senior executives.

Phil King, Adam Ashton, Charles Benoit and Chris Gordon are no longer with the company, it was announced Monday by division president Mary Ann Turcke, who took over the top job in May and has been working hard to try and remake Bell Media into a company that is ready for the digital present, and future.

King was head of CTV Sports and Entertainment programming and had been with the company (through its Bell Globemedia, CTV Globemedia, and Netstar days) for 26 years in various positions.

Chris Gordon was president of Bell Media Radio and local TV and had been with the company (dating back to when the radio division was CHUM Radio) for 17 years.

Charles Benoit was president of television and radio, Quebec, and had held various positions over his 35 year career, mostly with Astral Media. He had been Bell's chief Quebec executive since the company's 2012 purchase of Astral.

Adam Ashton was senior vice president of TV and business operations and has spent 17 years with the company, dating back to Netstar. He was also president of the broadcast consortium during the London Olympics.

While it is not known yet who will replace these four, employees have been told there will be a new overall structure put in place and announced Tuesday morning.

Cartt.ca has learned from sources that Universal Music Canada president Randy Lennox has been hired by Bell Media, which will be made official tomorrow. We don't know what his position will be at this point.

"In a time of unprecedented competitive intensity and ongoing technological and regulatory change, we are restructuring our organization to ensure Bell Media is ready to maximize every opportunity to expand our leadership with viewers and listeners across the country," Bell Media president Mary Ann Turcke said in a memo Monday.

Besides the departures, the company's realignment will result in new roles and expanded responsibilities for others, said the memo.

"I look forward to providing you with another update detailing our organizational plans, new senior leadership roles and reporting structures," reads Turcke's memo.
"With a focus on competitiveness, innovation and operational efficiency, we will ensure our ongoing leadership with viewers and listeners in both official languages, prevailing in a broadcasting landscape that is being re-made by the day.

"Organizational change is never easy, especially in a fast-moving industry like ours, but I am committed to keeping you up to date throughout the process and ensuring every decision supports our team’s success and our company’s growth into the future."

More to come.
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Re: Positive Feedback on Bell Media Moves

Postby Tom Jeffries » Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:57 pm

4 big salaries, chucked over the side.
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Re: Positive Feedback on Bell Media Moves

Postby jon » Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:23 am

At the end of this morning's issue, Broadcast Dialogue has a full length article on the changes at Bell:
To access the PDF version click
http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/Admin/ ... g%2027.pdf

For the iPad/Mac version click
http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/Admin/ ... 7_iPad.pdf

Here is their summary in their regular Revolving Door section:

The executive wing at Bell Media has undergone another restructuring. Gone are Phil King, the head of CTV and sports programming and long-time TSN executive; Chris Gordon, president of radio and local TV; Adam Ashton, the senior VP of English TV and business operations; and Charles Benoît, Bell’s president of TV and radio in Quebec...

The new president, entertainment production and broadcasting, is Randy Lennox, most recently president of Universal Music Canada. He reports to Bell Media President Mary Ann Turcke as do: Stuart Garvie, president, media sales; Domenic Vivolo, president, content sales, marketing and digital products; Wendy Freeman, president, CTV News; Gerry Frappier, president, French-language TV and RDS; Stewart Johnston, president, TSN; Luc Quétel, president, Astral Out of Home; Mike Cosentino, head, programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV; Tracey Pearce, head, specialty and pay; Scott Henderson, VP, communications; and Jeff Hersh, director, strategy and business development...

Working as part of the Bell Media leadership team but reporting to BCE are: Nikki Moffat, senior VP, finance; Kevin Assaff, head, Bell Media legal affairs, content and distribution; Kevin Goldstein, VP, regulatory affairs, content and distribution; Sonia Brar, VP, information technology; Anne McNamara, VP, human resources; and Christian Roy, VP, network...
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Re: Positive Feedback on Bell Media Moves

Postby jon » Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:05 pm

REVOLVING DOOR:
The second wave of reshuffling at Bell Media sees the departure of six senior managers. They are: Sr. VP, Sales Lesley Conway; Sr. VP of CTV News Paul Rogers; VP Erin Sinyard (finance); Gianni Di Iorio (revenue management and research); and Mario Clément (in charge of content for Quebec). Also gone is Discovery Channel President/GM Paul Lewis. Lesley Conway became director, national sales at CHUM Group Radio Sales in 2000, then VP/GM. Next, she was VP/GM at Astral Radio Plus beginning in early 2008, and from 2011 to 2013 she was exec VP sales for Astral Out of Home. In July 2013, Conway was named SVP Bell Media Sales English Canada. Paul Rogers returned to CTV in early 2003 as VP, CTV News. Before that, he had been with Global Toronto as ND/exec. producer. In Feb. 2011, Rogers became Sr. VP, CTV News, taking on editorial responsibilities for CTV's 21 local stations. Paul Lewis moved to CTV after a 14-year career as executive producer at CBC. He began as VP of Discovery Channel Canada, then became Sr. VP. In 2003 he became president/GM responsible for five specialty channels – Discovery, Discovery World, Animal Planet, Discovery Science and Investigation Discovery.

Four Bell Media existing managers were promoted or given expanded roles, including Joanne MacDonald who is now VP, CTV News. And the Discovery team will now report to Tracey Pearce, head of specialty and pay...

Mark Finney has been appointed to the newly created position of VP, strategic sales at B ell Media effective immediately . Finney’s 20-year career background is primarily on the print side at such news organizations as, most recently, Star Media Group in Toronto and The Guardian in London...

(Broadcast Dialogue, Sept. 10, 2015)
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