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CBC names renowned media executive Denise Donlon as new head of CBC Radio(Canada Newswire English Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Attention News Editors TORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - CBC English Services has filled the most important radio leadership chair in the country with its appointment today of renowned media executive Denise Donlon as executive director of radio, effective September 29, 2008. Donlon, 52, a journalist, producer and former president of Sony Music Canada and vice president and general manager of CHUM Television's MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic, is one of the country's best-known media executives and has focused much of her recent attention on various international environmental and humanitarian initiatives. "Denise is without question one of the broadcasting industry's most talented and dynamic organizational leaders," says Richard Stursberg, executive vice president of CBC English Services. "She is both a proven administrator and team builder and a champion of creativity, artistic excellence and social responsibility. Her media experience and knowledge will complement and strengthen the mandate of CBC Radio, which is to engage all Canadians through its unique position as a non-commercial national public radio service." "In addition to her professional attributes, she has developed a prodigious network of relationships throughout the entertainment, government, business, humanitarian and environmental communities in Canada and around the world," Stursberg said. "All of which is useful to her leadership of CBC Radio, given its enormous range of programming which includes news, current affairs, the arts and, of course, the best music on Canadian airwaves." "I'm delighted to join CBC, as I've always believed in a strong and vibrant public broadcaster," Donlon says. "CBC Radio is on a tremendous roll right now, launching exciting new programming that is engaging and meaningful to diverse audiences, reflecting all Canadians. These are exciting times and I believe CBC Radio is well-positioned to enhance its reputation as the country's best and most vital radio service." Throughout her career, Donlon has initiated projects that have brought together music, journalism, social issues and human rights advocacy. She has promoted media literacy among young people and in 1993 was awarded the first Peter Gzowski/ABC Canada Award for Literacy. That same year, her team won a Gemini Award for Best Special Event Coverage - Election Night 1993 for Vote with a Vengeance, which raised political awareness among new voters. In 2001, Donlon traveled to Sierra Leone, Thailand and the Thai-Burmese border as a field producer for the award-winning WarChild documentary Musicians in the War Zone. In 2000, Donlon became president of Sony Music Canada, leading a team of more than 300 professionals with an annual $200 million budget and whose key initiatives included the establishment of electronic music distribution and the promotion and development of emerging Canadian talent and internationally established Canadian artists. Donlon left Sony Music in 2004 and has since lent her support and production abilities to a variety of high profile projects including Live 8, CBC's Tsunami Concert of Hope, the inaugural Green Living conference main stage, the President Clinton Foundation Birthday Event, which raised over $21 million in one evening for poverty alleviation, people living with HIV/AIDS and to combat climate change. She was appointed to the CHUM board of directors in 2005. Three times (1994, 1995, and 1997) Donlon was named Broadcast Executive of the Year at the Canadian Music Week Industry Awards. In 1997 she was the recipient of Toronto's Women in Film & Television Outstanding Achievement Award. In 2001, Donlon received the Wired Women's Woman of Vision Award and the Canadian Women in Communications Woman of the Year Award. She was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002 and in 2005 was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. She holds two honorary law degrees from the universities of Waterloo and Calgary. Donlon is a Trustee of Lake Ontario Waterkeepers and most recently, was involved with the Lake Ontario Waterkeepers and Royal Bank Financial Group on its inaugural Waterkeepers event at the Toronto Film Festival, featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She has also been involved with the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative, which focuses on social and economic development efforts in the global resource development community. << About CBC/Radio-Canada ---------------------- >> CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. With 28 services offered on Radio, Television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital audio, as well as through its record and music distribution service and wireless WAP and SMS messaging services, CBC/Radio-Canada is available how, where and when Canadians want it. Through this array of activities, CBC/Radio-Canada brings diverse regional and cultural perspectives into the daily lives of Canadians in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, in nine languages on its international Radio service, Radio Canada International and in eight languages on its Web-based radio service RCI viva, a service for recent and aspiring immigrants to Canada. Jeff Keay, media relations, [email protected], (416) 205-3987 Copyright ? 2008 Canada Newswire Ltd. All Rights Reserved. |