Ferne Cohen has left her role as executive director of the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) in order to pursue other business opportunities, parent company Brunico Communications announced Monday.

Cohen will remain a strategic consultant to the board of directors of the Banff Television Foundation throughout a transition period while Brunico conducts its search for new leadership.

During her decade-long tenure with BANFF, Cohen introduced a number of innovations to the festival such as the Company of Distinction program, which attracted media companies such as CBS, Disney│ABC, Lionsgate, A+E Networks and HBO. In a release announcing Cohen’s departure, Russell Goldstein, president and CEO of Brunico said: “Under Ferne’s leadership the Festival has evolved tremendously…The Festival owes her a debt of gratitude for the significant contributions she has made.”

“After a decade of involvement with the Festival, I’m excited to begin this new chapter in my career. It has been a great privilege to work alongside the Board and BANFF team and watch the Festival grow,” said Cohen in a statement.

In June 2016, Brunico, which is also the parent company of Playback, announced it had acquired the assets of Toronto-based Achilles Media, including the operating rights to the Banff World Media Festival.

The 38th edition of BANFF takes place from June 10 to 13, 2018 in Banff, Alberta.