The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has appointed Richard Cormier to lead programming, filling in the role previously held by Telefilm Canada head Julie Roy.

Suzanne Guèvremont, government film commissioner and chairperson at the NFB, announced Thursday (Aug. 24) that Cormier will serve as the NFB’s director general, programming, creation, distribution and marketing, and head of programming, effective Sept. 11.

Cormier comes to the NFB with more than three decades of experience in audiovisual production and post-production, content creation, and tech innovation in Canada and the U.S., according to a news release. He most recently served as VP, digital creative services, and executive producer, virtual production, at the Montreal-based MELS Studios. Prior to that he led the global expansion of the production services offered by Montreal-headquartered Moment Factory, which also has offices in Paris, New York, Tokyo and Singapore.

Cormier has also served stints as president at Ringside Creative in Detroit, SVP at New York City-based post-production group Nice Shoes, and SVP at L.A.-based Ascent Media. Cormier also co-founded Montreal-based post-production studio, Buzz Image.

Guèvremont said in a statement that Cormier “is coming to us at a key moment when the NFB, now more than ever, needs to reinvent itself while remaining relevant to its audiences.”

“With his innate leadership abilities and 30 years of experience in the fields of production, emerging technologies, innovation and marketing, he will help inspire the momentum needed to allow the NFB’s creative and technology teams, as well as the filmmakers and artists who create with us, to excel and to engage with the public,” added Guèvremont.

The role was left vacant after the departure of Roy, who was appointed executive director of Telefilm Canada for a five-year term in March.

Photo by Pierre-Luc Dufour for the NFB