Marketing and sales veteran Catherine Bridgman has been tapped as the publisher of Playback and Playback Daily, effective April 13.

The hiring returns Bridgman to the fold at Playback and its Toronto-based parent Brunico Communications where she spent the early years of her career, helping to launch the magazine and its sister publications, including Strategy, as a sales and marketing manager. Her career has since included executive roles at Canwest Media, Tribute Entertainment Media Group, Quebecor Media and consulting for U.S. and Canadian clients.

‘This is terrific news for the brand,’ says Brunico EVP Laas Turnbull. ‘Catherine is a star in the Canadian mediaverse. Her creativity and ability to execute on the sales and marketing front will serve us well as we continue to roll out new product.’

Bridgman says it’s the ‘perfect time’ to join the brand, pointing to challenges facing the broadcast and film industries brought on by new technologies and the turbulent economy.

Broadcasters and filmmakers ‘are at a point where they’re trying to redefine themselves and trying to respond to all the business challenges they’re facing. Their focus is being pulled off ‘How do we represent ourselves in a digital format, online, and continue to appeal in a creative way to our audience?’ to trying to make ends meet,’ she says.

Bridgman takes over for Peter Vamos, who left in December to head the Banff World Television Festival.