Former CBC exec Johanna Samuel has joined Toronto-based Canamedia/Distribution Access as VP of international coproductions, acquisitions and sales, realscreen has learned.

Samuel took up the new position this week, reporting to MD of worldwide broadcast sales Mike Lolato. She is tasked with increasing sales of documentary titles, as well as business development initiatives exploring international coproduction opportunities, among other projects.

In an email to staff, Doug Connolly, president and COO for Canamedia and its parent company Distribution Access, said: “Johanna brings with her a library of documentaries and factual programming that she has been licensing for broadcast globally and will now make these titles/series part of the Canamedia programming line-up.

“Johanna is an experienced player in the media business and we look forward to her helping grow our revenues in the years ahead.”

Samuel previously served with CBC from 2006 to 2008 as the VP in charge of international acquisitions, program sales and archives. Prior to the CBC, she’d served as a VP of acquisitions for Fox Lorber and Warner Bros. International.

The news comes after Canamedia was last summer acquired by educational video company Distribution Access. Canamedia, founded in 1978 by Les and Jane Harris, has a catalog of more than 1,500 titles.