The Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association (SMPIA) has appointed Robert Hardy (pictured) as its new executive director.

Hardy assumes the role from Ken Alexce, who has served as the non-profit organization’s executive director for the past five years, according to a news release.

With more than 25 years of experience in Canada’s production sector, Hardy brings a wide network of broadcaster, streamer and prodco connections to advance SMPIA’s work of promoting more production in Saskatchewan, said the release.

Hardy most recently served as president, Canada at Vancouver’s Fireworks Media Group. Past roles include SVP of development at Entertainment One subsidiary Force Four Entertainment, VP of development at Paperny Entertainment, development manager at CTV and director of corporate development at the National Screen Institute – Canada.

The SMPIA board of directors thanked Alexce for his five years of service in the release, noting he was “instrumental in obtaining new funding for productions and training initiatives.”

Saskatchewan’s production sector has seen a boom in the last couple of years thanks to multiple increases from the provincial government to its Feature Film and Television Production Grant. In the span of two years, the grant budget increased to $12 million from $2 million.

Image courtesy of SMPIA, photo by Myrna Petersen