Broadcast veteran Andrew Akman, who came through the former Alliance Atlantis Communications to serve as vice president of planning at Shaw Media, has joined Cineflix Media as COO.

Akman will fill the newly-created position as Cineflix Media looks to control fast-paced growth at the factual TV producer now diversifying into scripted TV and with offices on both sides of the Atlantic.

Based in Cineflix’s Toronto office, Akman will oversee corporate operations, a responsibility until now on the shoulders of co-CEO Katherine Buck.

With Akman overseeing backroom operations, Buck will be freed up to focus on strategic direction, while Simon Lloyd manages production, based in Toronto.

Cineflix also has expanding divisions in Cineflix Rights, led by Chris Bonney, and a scripted arm managed by former NBCU International exec Peter Smith.

“It’s not unlike a broadcaster or cable operator who have folks taking care of the back office functions and helping to define the strategy and manage change,” Akman told Playback about his appointment.

Akman joins Cineflix from Shaw Media, where he oversaw strategic planning and business integration activities.

Before that, he worked at Canwest Broadcasting as senior vice president and chief administrative officer, again overseeing corporate operations.

And at Alliance Atlantis Communications he served as senior vice president of corporate development and investor relations.