Peter Vamos is stepping down as executive director of the Banff World Television Festival, 18 months after taking over the reins.

Vamos made his decision after a resurgent year at the June fest, which saw attendance grow over 30% from the year before to around 1,700 delegates. The fest, the second Vamos oversaw, also boasted a star-studded line-up featuring stars such as Ricky Gervais and William Shatner.

‘It was the right time,’ says Vamos about his decision. ‘I see a lot of opportunity in the industry and in publishing right now. It was time to consider what else I want to do.’

This year’s Banff saw the wholesale merger of traditional and digital media, something Vamos says happened at exactly the right time for Banff’s annual fete.

‘It made the festival younger and more diverse overnight,’ the former publisher of Playback adds.

Mark Greenspan, nextMEDIA’s executive producer, will take on overall duties at the Festival, with help from Ferne Cohen on the television side and Jory Groberman the digital media side. (Both are currently directors of business development.)

Vamos joined Banff’s Toronto-based organizer Achilles Media after Jennifer Harkness stepped down in 2008.