The CBC has unveiled its new scripted content leadership team to lead its development and production units for comedy and drama with a combination of new hires and internal promotions.

The four new directors report to executive director, scripted content Trish Williams in a structure “designed to be more responsive to Canadian creators and the independent production community,” according to a press release.

Banger Films head of content Jennifer Shin (Mouthpiece) has been named director of development, comedy, while National Film Board of Canada (NFB) producer Lea Marin (Unarmed Verses) has been tapped as the pubcaster’s director of development, drama.

The two veteran producers will officially join the organization on Feb. 8.

CBC Digital Originals executive Paige Murray, who has been with the organization since 2011, now reports to incoming director Marin as executive in charge of development, drama. Still unfilled is the role of an executive in charge of development, comedy who will report to Shin.

Within the organization, the pubcaster is elevating comedy executive Sandra Picheca to director of current production, comedy and drama executive Sarah Adams to director of current production, drama.

Since 2012, Picheca has served as executive in charge of production, comedy, overseeing both the development and production of CBC originals such as Kim’s Convenience, Workin’ Moms, Mr. D, This Hour Has 22 Minutes and upcoming comedy Sort Of.  CBC comedy executive Greig Dymond now reports to Picheca in an expanded role of executive in charge of current production and head of festivals, comedy.

Adams, a former Breakthrough Entertainment head of development, has served as executive in charge of production, drama since 2012. Over the years, she’s overseen the development and production of a number of CBC originals such as Coroner, X Company and upcoming project Feudal.

CBC drama executive Nicola Makoway now reports to Adams as executive in charge of current production, drama. As well, there is an additional executive in charge of current production post open for recruitment, according to a release. The role also reports to Adams.

Rounding out the list of changes, Ty Hyland has been appointed to the expanded post of senior advisor, production and business planning for CBC’s scripted team. A line producer with more than 20 years of experience, Hyland previously joined the CBC in 2013 as an in-house strategist in production planning across scripted and digital programming.

A CBC spokesperson told Playback Daily that all promotions and expanded roles are effective immediately and that appointments for all open positions will be announced soon.

“With this new structure, we are excited to welcome fresh perspectives and recognize the shining stars of our experienced scripted team,” said Williams in a statement. “Bringing in two highly respected producers to lead our proactive and future-looking vision for development will ensure we can find and nurture new creative talent while we continue to achieve a high standard of excellence in our nationally and internationally celebrated dramas and comedies.”

Last year veteran CBC executives Helen Asimakis and Michelle Daly, who served as senior director of drama and comedy, respectively, departed the pubcaster as it restructured its scripted team to create dedicated development and production units. The new structure eliminated the two senior director roles in favour of these four new director roles.

Additionally, 2020 saw former executive in charge of production Melanie Nepinak Hadley join WarnerMedia’s Global Access Programs, while executive in charge of production, comedy Karen Tsang took on the role of VP of development at Toronto-based prodco Pier 21 Films.

CBC’s executive director of OTT programming Gave Lindo was also previously named director of content programming at TikTok Canada and executive in charge of production Nicole Mendes joined Vancouver-based prodco Lark Productions as its VP, scripted development.

Image (left to right): Jennifer Shin and Lea Marin