Universal Music Canada CEO Jeffrey Remedios has been appointed chair of the board of directors of the Toronto International Film Festival, effective immediately.

Remedios, who has served on the TIFF board for the past five years, replaces Jennifer Tory, who has held the role since 2016.

Also new to the board as members are RBC EVP and CMO Mary DePaoli, director Danis Goulet (Night Raiders), Wattpad co-founder and CEO Allen Lau, Bell SVP and chief brand officer Devorah Lithwick and Elevation Pictures co-founder and co-president Laurie May.

Departing members include: Cineplex CEO and president Ellis Jacob, a 17-year board member; Bell Media president Wade Oosterman, a 13-year board member; and nine-year board member Shabin Mohamed; as well as Shen Capital Partners president Francis Shen, L’Oréal Canada executive Frank Kollmar and Relay Ventures chair Geoff Beattie.

Remedios, known for navigating digital transformations with entrepreneurial creativity and strategic focus, is hailed as a champion of ground-breaking artists, a promoter of independent thinkers and an advocate of distinct voices.

He also sits on the boards of CARAS (the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences), Music Canada, and Arts & Crafts, the award-winning, premiere independent music label he co-founded in 2003 and where he served as president until 2015.

Remedios founded Field Trip, downtown Toronto’s heralded boutique community music and arts festival held at Historic Fort York, and is former chair of FACTOR (the foundation assisting Canadian talent on recordings). Remedios has also served on the boards of the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Canadian Opera Company, CIMA (the Canadian Independent Music Association) and MACAC (the Minister’s Advisory Council for Arts & Culture).

“I’d first like to congratulate and thank Jennifer Tory for her impeccable leadership and years of commitment and contribution to TIFF, particularly in recent years as the organization navigated these unprecedented times,” said Remedios in a statement. “I’d also like to thank our departing board colleagues – Ellis, Wade, Shabin, Francis, Frank and Geoff – for their dedication and countless contributions. I’m humbled and honoured to serve TIFF’s mission in the role of chair alongside my esteemed existing and new board colleagues.”

Tory served as the chair of TIFF’s Philanthropy Committee for six years, led the development of the strategic plan exercises, championed the organization’s leadership transition committee, and was board lead on the TIFF Tribute Gala, now known as the TIFF Tribute Awards – a splashy industry event to raise funds for TIFF’s year-round initiatives.

“It has been a true privilege to lead this dynamic group of people and serve our beloved TIFF over the past 10 years,” said Tory, in a statement. “Together with TIFF’s leadership, we have celebrated many wonderful moments of success, just as we have also faced incredible challenges. I am so proud of the work we have accomplished during this time and our incredible ability to pivot when we had to.

“I have had the privilege of working alongside Jeffrey for several years and his business acumen and steady poise are exactly what the organization needs in its next chapter and I have no doubt that TIFF will thrive under his leadership.”

Tory retired in December 2019 as Royal Bank of Canada’s CAO following a 42-year career and currently serves as a director on several executive boards and on the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation Board.

A recipient of the 2011 Catalyst Canada Honour for championing women in business, she has been recognized by Women’s Executive Network (WXN) as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women and was inducted into the WXN Hall of Fame in 2017. Tory has also been the recipient of numerous awards recognizing her work related to the advancement of women and the advocacy for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ diversity, including the Harry Jerome Award and the Start Proud Leading Executive Ally Award.

– Photo of Jeffrey Remedios (R) and Lucia Remedios taken by Brian de Rivera Simon/Getty Images for Audi Canada