TORONTO and MONTREAL – Bell Media cut approximately 40 people from its payroll this week, primarily from the director and senior director levels, and mostly in Toronto and Montreal.
The cuts are part of a planned reorganization of the company, which division president Mary Ann Turcke began in the summer, and which Cartt.ca has reported on here, here, here and here.
While the company would not confirm the exact number of departures, we have learned from sources that the number is correct. Approximately two-thirds of the cuts happened in Toronto affecting people working in its Agincourt, Queen Street West and Eglinton Ave. offices.
“I can confirm there have been some director-level departures at Bell Media locations in Toronto, Montreal and local stations across the country,” said Bell Media vice-president of communications Scott Henderson in an email to Cartt.ca when asked about the departures. “There were also promotions and expanded roles for other leaders. It’s part of our ongoing restructuring exercise to ensure Bell Media remains the leader in a fast-changing industry.”
There will be additional cuts made before the end of November in the ranks below the director level, something which Turcke announced in a company wide memo in August.
A memo circulated to employees on Thursday from Bell Media president of entertainment, production and broadcasting Randy Lennox and CTV News president Wendy Freeman outlined more of the exact changes. A copy of which was obtained by Cartt.ca.
Lis Travers assumes the role of general manager, CTV News Channel following 11 years overseeing the day-to-day operations of Canada AM. Nanci MacLean, vice-president, in-house production, will now assume responsibility for entertainment content on Canada AM, and all of that show’s staff. News editorial content for will continue to be overseen by Freeman.
“We are advancing a new, consolidated approach in which our operations across Canada are divided into three distinct geographical areas overseen by three seasoned Bell Media leaders.”
When it comes to local radio and television, “we are advancing a new, consolidated approach in which our operations across Canada are divided into three distinct geographical areas overseen by three seasoned Bell Media leaders,” reads the release.
Martin Spalding, is the new vice-president and general manager, local radio and TV, Québec, and under him will be Guy Bellehumeur, general manager and sales manager, Drummondville; Denis Bouchard, general manager, Montérégie; Patrick Côté, Assistant general manager, Québec; Peter Georgariou, general manager, Gatineau, and Local sales, Québec; Nathalie Johnson, general manager and sales manager, Sherbrooke; Richard Turcotte, general manager, Saguenay
Dave Daigle takes on a new role as regional vice-president and general manager, local radio and TV, Ontario and Atlantic Canada, and reporting to him will be Patrick Brennan, vice-president and general manager, New Brunswick and Truro Radio; Richard Gray, vice-president and general manager, radio and TV, Ottawa and Pembroke; Robert Harris, vice-president and general manager, St. Catharines and Hamilton Radio; Greg Hinton, vice-president and general manager, Kingston and Brockville Radio; Scott Lund, vice-president and general manager, CTV Northern Ontario; Trent McGrath, vice-president and general manager, Halifax radio and CTV/CTV Two Atlantic; Val Meyer, vice-president and general manager, Toronto and Peterborough/Lindsay Radio; Don Mumford, vice-president and general manager, radio and Television, London/Windsor/Barrie. Daigle will also oversee Kitchener TV and radio until further notice
Out west, James Stuart sees his role expand to take on additional responsibilities as regional vice-president and general manager, local radio and TV, Western Canada, supporting Len Perry, vice-president and general manager, Alberta Television, Stewart Meyers, vice-president and general manager, Calgary Radio/vice-president, Edmonton radio operations. Reporting to Meyers will be Patrick Cardinal, general manager, Edmonton Radio; Jeff Bollenbach, general manager, Radio and TV, Manitoba; David Fisher, general manager, Radio and TV, Saskatchewan; Robert Gray, Program Director, TSN Radio; Ken Kilcullen, general manager, B.C. Interior Group
David Corey is vice-president, radio programming and Lesley Soldat is vice-president and general manager, Orbyt, Bell Media Radio’s syndication group.
Notable people leaving the company include Lisa Beaton, general manager, CTV News Channel; Mark Sikstrom, executive producer, product and technology innovation, CTV News, and editor, journalistic policy and practices; Kevin Bell, general manager, CTV Two Vancouver Island, Victoria Radio; Louis Douville, vice-president and general manager, CTV and Radio Montréal; Mike Elgie, vice-president and general manager, CTV/CTV Two Atlantic; Steve Fawcett, vice-president, GM/GSM, Peterborough/Lindsay; Lloyd Lewis, vice-president and general manager, CTV and CTV Two Edmonton; Eric Proksch, vice-president and general manager, Windsor/Detroit, Radio and Television; Marlène Trottier, general manager, Radio Abitibi.
“These decisions are not easy to make but are essential to becoming more competitive in a challenged and constantly shifting media landscape,” says the memo.
The changes at Bell Media happened alongside cuts at the Bell Canada parent company as well.
A memo from CEO George Cope circulated to all employees Thursday noted the restructuring isn’t limited to the Media division. “Today we are announcing important structural changes at Bell that execute multiple strategic imperatives – leveraging wireline momentum, improving customer service, expanding media leadership and achieving a competitive cost structure, while also further integrating Bell Aliant operations into the national team,” reads Cope’s memo.
Sales and marketing functions for Bell’s small business division are transferring from Bell Business Markets to Bell Residential and Small Business (BRSB), which is now the new name for the expanded Bell Residential Services group, led by Rizwan Jamal. “Moving Small Business into the team recognizes the many similarities in product and service offerings for small business and residential customers and enables us to fully leverage the scale of BRSB in sales and marketing, pricing, and product development,” wrote Cope.
Customer service for small business as well as Bell Aliant call centres will move into customer operations, part of the national customer experience team led by John Watson, added the memo. “Integrating small business and Atlantic customer service into customer ops allows us to share best practices, leverage our significant capital investments in service tools and training, reduce operating costs, and deliver a consistent Bell customer experience across the country,” says the memo.
Finally, the sales, service, delivery and wholesale teams at Bell Business Markets, led by Tom Little, have been restructured “to maximize service and support for our mid-sized and enterprise business customers and enhance Bell’s leadership in these key markets,” adds the Cope memo.
