Today, the Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced the extension of Catherine Tait as President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada until January 2, 2025.
Ms. Tait began her appointment on July 3, 2018, after being identified through an open, transparent and merit-based selection process. She is the first woman in the history of CBC/Radio-Canada to serve as President and CEO.
Ms. Tait was appointed Chair of the Global Task Force for public media in 2019 to help promote and protect independent journalism and public broadcasting around the world. In this capacity, she has made combatting online and physical harm against journalists one of her top priorities.
Under Ms. Tait's direction, the CBC/Radio-Canada expanded its outreach by deploying journalists in underserved communities such as Grande Prairie, Nanaimo, Cranbrook, Lethbridge and Kingston, in addition to collaborating nationally with hundreds of public libraries. This year, CBC/Radio-Canada was recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers.
Ms.Tait is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Boston University and the University of Paris. She has worked in the independent film and television business for more than 30 years as an entrepreneur and champion for Canadian content. She has also worked alongside many leading Canadian cultural organizations and some of Canada's largest media and broadcasting companies including Telefilm Canada, the Canada Media Fund, CHUM Broadcasting, eONE Entertainment, and DHX Media. Ms. Tait was a founding partner of Hollywood Suite, a Canadian broadcaster. She served as President of Duopoly, an independent film, television and digital content company for 10 years. In 2006, she founded iThentic, an award-winning digital content production and distribution company. She was also recognized for her experience as President and Chief Operating Officer of Salter Street Films, producer of This Hour Has 22 Minutes. In 2021, she was honoured as Woman of the Year by Women in Communications and Technology.
As with the 2018 appointment, the Independent Advisory Committee for Appointments to the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors will be launching an open, transparent and merit-based selection process in due time to find the next President and CEO of the organization, to start in January 2025.
