CBC Podcasts executive producer Arif Noorani has been promoted to the newly created position of director of the division as it aims to go to “the next level.”

The pubcaster says Noorani will lead content strategy and development at CBC Podcasts, and identify new opportunities in the competitive medium. He’ll also lead initiatives to further grow audiences “and take Canada to the world, such as spearheading partnerships with global podcast partners,” says a news release.

A journalist with more than 30 years of experience in a variety of roles, Noorani launched CBC Podcasts in 2015 and has developed and managed the creation of more than 40 original series, including the international hit Someone Knows Something; 12 seasons of Uncover including Escaping NXIVM; The Village; Love Me; and Other People’s Problems.

CBC Podcasts garners more than 70 million downloads annually, according to the pubcaster. The division has also received international accolades, with Radio-Canada’s Laissez-nous raconter : L’histoire crochie produced by prodco Terre Innue of Maliotenam, Que., winning the award for best French-language podcast from outside of France at the 2020 Paris Podcast Festival.

Last week CBC revealed its winter 2022 podcast slate, including the six-part personal series Welcome to Paradise from journalist Anna Maria Tremonti, and the weekly current events show Nothing is Foreign hosted by Tamara Khandaker.

“Arif employs an audience-first approach in whatever he does, and that is particularly evident in the wide range of well-received series that he’s shepherded since co-founding the division with me seven years ago,” said Leslie Merklinger, executive director of CBC Podcasts, in a statement.

“I am so excited about the potential of CBC Podcasts and am grateful to have Arif as a partner to help take this content powerhouse to the next level.”