CBC EVP English Services Kirstine Stewart is leaving the public broadcaster to become Twitter Canada’s managing director.

Twitter president, global revenue, Adam Bain tweeted (fittingly) that Stewart’s appointment is Twitter Canada’s first hire.

“It is a fact of life in a competitive, creative business that when you have great people, others will try to entice them away with big opportunities. Luckily, Kirstine’s team is deep in the great people line and we’ll be able to go forward without a hitch,” said president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada Hubert T. Lacroix in a statement issued shortly after the news broke.

The social media-savvy Stewart, who is a regular presence on Twitter, has been with the pubcaster for seven years.

“I’ve had some of the happiest moments in my life at the CBC, and I’ve been honoured to represent such an important name to Canadians,” said Stewart. “I’m proud of what we’ve done together these past seven years. I will miss the CBC family dearly, but I know that even when one leaves the CBC, the CBC never really leaves you. It’s in my DNA and I’m all the better for it.”

Stewart’s responsibilities will be taken by Neil McEneaney, CBC GM, finance and strategy, on an interim basis. The CBC said in a statement Monday that a recruitment process will be launched immediately.