Former CBC factual production head Cathie James has joined indie producer Proper Television as creative director.

James, as executive in charge of production of factual entertainment at the CBC, led the pubcaster into reality TV with local versions of international formats like Dragon’s Den, Battle of the Blades and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, and homegrown talkers and reality series like The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos and Host Hunt to rebrand Fashion File on CBC Newsworld.

Now Proper president and executive producer Guy O’Sullivan has hired James to help secure rest-of-the-world financing for an expanded programming slate as the indie producer marks five years of business.

Proper is best known for its Canada’s Worst Driver and Canada’s Worst Handyman series on the Discovery Channel.

After starting her production career at CBC news and current affairs, James worked as an indie producer, making shows for Food Network, HGTV and Life Network before becoming a production executive at Alliance Atlantis Communications and head of development at Red Apple Entertainment, now part of Frantic Films.