CBC unveils comedy & drama chiefs for new-look scripted division

LR: Lea Marin & Jennifer Shin

Canadian broadcaster CBC has hired two new execs and promoted two others to the key positions in its new-look scripted team, following the exits last year of drama head Helen Asimakis and comedy lead Michelle Daly.

CBC restructured its scripted division in November, with four new director positions created to oversee the newly minted development and production divisions, which operate separately across comedy and drama.

Each director reports to Trish Williams, executive director for scripted content, with the changes “designed to be more responsive to Canadian creators and the independent production community”, according to CBC.

Development additions

Jennifer Shin will become director of development for comedy at CBC from 8 February, joining from Canuck prodco Banger Films where she was head of content and worked on films including Rebecca Addelman’s Paper Year.

Shin previously had stints at First Generation Films amongst others, with her new reports including the role of exec in charge of development, who is yet to be named.

Sandra Picheca

Lea Marin, meanwhile, takes the director of development for drama role, having had recent film credits including Michele Stephenson’s Stateless and Charles Officer’s Unarmed Verses. Digital originals executive Paige Murray will report to Marin in the new role of executive in charge of development for drama.

Production promotions

On the production side, Sandra Picheca has been promoted to the director of comedy role, while Sarah Adams has oversight of drama.

Picheca was most recently executive in charge of production for comedy, a role she’s held since 2012 during which she’s overseen the development and production of Kim’s Convenience, Workin’ Moms and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Greig Dymond (Schitt’s Creek) will report to Picheca in an expanded role as executive in charge of current production and head of festivals for comedy.

Adams becomes director of current production for drama, having also spent more than eight years as executive in charge of production for drama. Her credits include Feudal, Coroner and X Company. Nicola Makoway will report to Adams as executive in charge of current production, with another post yet to be filled.

Sarah Adams

Additionally, Ty Hyland becomes senior advisor for production and business planning, following a 20-year career during which he’s worked on Corner Gas, Incredible Story Studio and Little Mosque On The Prairie among numerous others.

Williams said the appointments would bring “fresh perspectives and recognise the shining stars of our experienced scripted team.”

She added: “Bringing in two highly respected producers to lead our proactive and future-looking vision for development will ensure we can find and nurture new creative talent while we continue to achieve a high standard of excellence in our nationally and internationally celebrated dramas and comedies.”