M arcia Douglas has been appointed as the new executive director of the Bell Fund.

The Bell Fund announced Thursday (Dec. 7) that Douglas will succeed outgoing executive director Nancy Chapelle effective Jan. 1, 2024. Chapelle previously announced she would be stepping down on Dec. 31, but would stay on for three months in a consulting role as she transitions into retirement.

As executive director, Douglas will oversee national activities across the Bell Fund’s Toronto and Montreal offices, and be responsible for the overall direction and management of the Fund. She will report to the board of directors.

Douglas has more than 20 years of experience in the screen industry, spanning policy, production financing, advocacy, and regulatory and corporate social responsibility. She was a program manager at the Bell Fund nearly a decade ago, managing day-to-day operations, before she moved on to work at the Canadian Media Producers Association for more than six years, rising to the role of VP, industry and business affairs.

She most recently served as VP, growth and inclusion at the Canada Media Fund (CMF), a position she was promoted to earlier this year after joining the CMF last year as director of English content, international and export.

“Marcia is a leader in our industry, possessing a strong blend of business acumen, industry knowledge, and strategic focus to lead the Bell Fund going forward,” said Bell Fund chair Naveen Prasad in a statement. “She’s a tireless advocate for the Canadian production community, and, as our new executive director, Marcia will continue our mandate to the benefit of Canadian audiences, artists and content creators, as well as Canada’s overall creative economy.”

Douglas added: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Bell Fund, a constant innovator, whose history of adapting the evolving needs of producers and creators is one I’ve always admired. I look forward to keeping to this principle, thoughtfully and efficiently, with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as key tenets in our overall mandate.”

The Bell Fund is a not-for-profit certified independent production fund, whose initiatives include the Slate Development Program, TV Selective Program and Short-Form Digital Series.

Image courtesy of the Bell Fund