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Kirstine Stewart leaves CBC to head up Twitter Canada
Monday April 29th 2013Kirstine Stewart’s first job was delivering newspapers. Her last job was vice president of CBC’s English language services. Her new job is heading up Twitter Canada.
From print, to broadcast, to social media, Stewart has been at the forefront of change.
As the first Twitter Canada employee of the California-based company, Stewart has been challenged with expanding the social network to Canadians. What that will look like in the future is up for debate.
“We are all trying to figure out what the next step is. It’s not necessarily that television on the wall,” Stewart told the Star. “There are great ways to reinvent content, and this a great opportunity to do so. This is the Golden Age of media.”
But first she has to find an office.
“These are early days. We’re looking for somewhere in Toronto. The fun part for me is starting something from the ground up and building this office.”
Stewart, arguably the most powerful person in Canadian broadcasting and a staple on the list of most influential people in the nation, announced her resignation to CBC CEO and president Hubert Lacroix on Sunday.
Twenty four hours later she was in her new post as managing director of Twitter Canada.
“It’s usual in the media business not to have too much transition time,” said Stewart. “I leave with a bit of a heavy heart. I’m leaving a lot of family behind and that’s a sad moment for me.”
Stewart insists that the $115 million in cuts to the CBC mandated by the federal government in 2012 had nothing to do with her departure.
“You react to what you’ve been given. It made the people we work with very nimble and much more focused. It’s true there was less opportunity and less resources to do things differently, but considering all of the cuts we did well,” said Stewart. “I think it’s folly for anyone to underestimate the future of the CBC.“
Stewart, who took over from Richard Stursberg as interim vice president in 2010 and officially in January 2011, has already changed her Twitter account from @KStewartCBC to @KirstineStewart to mark her move.
“Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice President English Services, advised me yesterday that she has accepted a position with Twitter Inc. and is leaving CBC/Radio-Canada immediately,” Lacroix said in an email to staff Monday.
“Luckily, Kirstine’s team is deep in the great people line and we’ll be able to go forward without a hitch,” said Lacroix, putting a positive spin on the departure.
“If it was going to happen, this is, in fact, a good time at CBC for it to happen. It is a time of renewal.”
Until a replacement is found, Stewart’s duties will be assumed by Neil McEneaney, general manager, finance and strategy.
Not surprisingly, Stewart’s hire was announced first on Twitter.
“Excited to announce @KirstineStewart as new Managing Director & 1st hire of Twitter Canada,” the social media company’s Adam Bain announced via Twitter.
“Bienvenue chez Twitter! Now hiring in Toronto.”
Stewart, a fixture on red carpets, is married to Zaib Shaikh, an actor on the now-cancelled CBC show Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Source: The Toronto Star
Headline, Industry News
Kirstine Stewart leaves CBC to head up Twitter Canada
Monday April 29th 2013Kirstine Stewart’s first job was delivering newspapers. Her last job was vice president of CBC’s English language services. Her new job is heading up Twitter Canada.
From print, to broadcast, to social media, Stewart has been at the forefront of change.
As the first Twitter Canada employee of the California-based company, Stewart has been challenged with expanding the social network to Canadians. What that will look like in the future is up for debate.
“We are all trying to figure out what the next step is. It’s not necessarily that television on the wall,” Stewart told the Star. “There are great ways to reinvent content, and this a great opportunity to do so. This is the Golden Age of media.”
But first she has to find an office.
“These are early days. We’re looking for somewhere in Toronto. The fun part for me is starting something from the ground up and building this office.”
Stewart, arguably the most powerful person in Canadian broadcasting and a staple on the list of most influential people in the nation, announced her resignation to CBC CEO and president Hubert Lacroix on Sunday.
Twenty four hours later she was in her new post as managing director of Twitter Canada.
“It’s usual in the media business not to have too much transition time,” said Stewart. “I leave with a bit of a heavy heart. I’m leaving a lot of family behind and that’s a sad moment for me.”
Stewart insists that the $115 million in cuts to the CBC mandated by the federal government in 2012 had nothing to do with her departure.
“You react to what you’ve been given. It made the people we work with very nimble and much more focused. It’s true there was less opportunity and less resources to do things differently, but considering all of the cuts we did well,” said Stewart. “I think it’s folly for anyone to underestimate the future of the CBC.“
Stewart, who took over from Richard Stursberg as interim vice president in 2010 and officially in January 2011, has already changed her Twitter account from @KStewartCBC to @KirstineStewart to mark her move.
“Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice President English Services, advised me yesterday that she has accepted a position with Twitter Inc. and is leaving CBC/Radio-Canada immediately,” Lacroix said in an email to staff Monday.
“Luckily, Kirstine’s team is deep in the great people line and we’ll be able to go forward without a hitch,” said Lacroix, putting a positive spin on the departure.
“If it was going to happen, this is, in fact, a good time at CBC for it to happen. It is a time of renewal.”
Until a replacement is found, Stewart’s duties will be assumed by Neil McEneaney, general manager, finance and strategy.
Not surprisingly, Stewart’s hire was announced first on Twitter.
“Excited to announce @KirstineStewart as new Managing Director & 1st hire of Twitter Canada,” the social media company’s Adam Bain announced via Twitter.
“Bienvenue chez Twitter! Now hiring in Toronto.”
Stewart, a fixture on red carpets, is married to Zaib Shaikh, an actor on the now-cancelled CBC show Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Source: The Toronto Star
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Headline, Industry News
Kirstine Stewart leaves CBC to head up Twitter Canada
Monday April 29th 2013Kirstine Stewart’s first job was delivering newspapers. Her last job was vice president of CBC’s English language services. Her new job is heading up Twitter Canada.
From print, to broadcast, to social media, Stewart has been at the forefront of change.
As the first Twitter Canada employee of the California-based company, Stewart has been challenged with expanding the social network to Canadians. What that will look like in the future is up for debate.
“We are all trying to figure out what the next step is. It’s not necessarily that television on the wall,” Stewart told the Star. “There are great ways to reinvent content, and this a great opportunity to do so. This is the Golden Age of media.”
But first she has to find an office.
“These are early days. We’re looking for somewhere in Toronto. The fun part for me is starting something from the ground up and building this office.”
Stewart, arguably the most powerful person in Canadian broadcasting and a staple on the list of most influential people in the nation, announced her resignation to CBC CEO and president Hubert Lacroix on Sunday.
Twenty four hours later she was in her new post as managing director of Twitter Canada.
“It’s usual in the media business not to have too much transition time,” said Stewart. “I leave with a bit of a heavy heart. I’m leaving a lot of family behind and that’s a sad moment for me.”
Stewart insists that the $115 million in cuts to the CBC mandated by the federal government in 2012 had nothing to do with her departure.
“You react to what you’ve been given. It made the people we work with very nimble and much more focused. It’s true there was less opportunity and less resources to do things differently, but considering all of the cuts we did well,” said Stewart. “I think it’s folly for anyone to underestimate the future of the CBC.“
Stewart, who took over from Richard Stursberg as interim vice president in 2010 and officially in January 2011, has already changed her Twitter account from @KStewartCBC to @KirstineStewart to mark her move.
“Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice President English Services, advised me yesterday that she has accepted a position with Twitter Inc. and is leaving CBC/Radio-Canada immediately,” Lacroix said in an email to staff Monday.
“Luckily, Kirstine’s team is deep in the great people line and we’ll be able to go forward without a hitch,” said Lacroix, putting a positive spin on the departure.
“If it was going to happen, this is, in fact, a good time at CBC for it to happen. It is a time of renewal.”
Until a replacement is found, Stewart’s duties will be assumed by Neil McEneaney, general manager, finance and strategy.
Not surprisingly, Stewart’s hire was announced first on Twitter.
“Excited to announce @KirstineStewart as new Managing Director & 1st hire of Twitter Canada,” the social media company’s Adam Bain announced via Twitter.
“Bienvenue chez Twitter! Now hiring in Toronto.”
Stewart, a fixture on red carpets, is married to Zaib Shaikh, an actor on the now-cancelled CBC show Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Source: The Toronto Star
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