Toronto-based White Pine Pictures announced Monday that Steve Ord has been appointed as the company’s chief operating officer.

Ord will take over day-to-day responsibilities from VP Janice Dawe, who decided to step down from those responsibilities after eight years with the company.

“[Ord’s] experience in the industry and acute business sense is a welcome addition to our company. With our new drama Cracked about to launch on CBC, and multiple dramatic, documentary and factual projects in development, Steve is entering White Pine at the perfect time to help take it to the next level in global entertainment,” said White Pine Pictures president and co-founder Peter Raymont in a statement.

Ord has worked for more than 20 years in the public and private sectors. He was previously executive VP, TV production at Alliance Atlantis Communications. He also worked as manager of business affairs at Telefilm Canada’s Toronto office.

Ord is also an instructor at the Schulich School of Business and at the Independent Production Fund is vice-chair of the board of directors and a member of the finance committee.

Dawe, who is an executive producer on the upcoming procedural drama Cracked, will continue to consult with the company on a project basis and as a strategic advisor, said Raymont in a statement.