Jesse Wente is handing over the reins of the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) to Kerry Swanson.

The organization’s board of directors announced that Wente (pictured) will depart the ISO at the end of the year, with Swanson appointed as executive director. He will “continue to engage with the organization on future strategic initiatives,” according to a news release.

Wente was first named executive director of the ISO in 2018 after the office was founded through support from the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, APTN and CBC. He currently serves as co-executive director with Swanson, who joined in 2019, and is chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts.

During his tenure the ISO secured three-year $40 million funding allocation from the federal government toward its programming and initiatives, as well as expanding its internal team. Partners with the ISO include Netflix, Sundance Institute, Amazon Studios, the Banff World Media Festival, MIT and the Directors Guild of Canada.

“The board thanks Jesse Wente for his invaluable contributions as the ISO’s founding director,” said Jean La Rose, chair of the ISO board of directors, in a statement. “The broader Indigenous production community has benefited greatly from the impact of his presence, voice and advocacy for Indigenous narrative sovereignty.”

“Kerry is a leader who embraces the values of the ISO and her proven commitment and deep knowledge of the Indigenous media sector will ensure the organization’s continued growth and success,” he continued.

“It has been my great honour to work for the ISO since its inception and to advocate for the many talented and inspiring Indigenous storytellers in our community,” said Wente. “I have achieved the goals I set out to accomplish when I joined the organization and I will continue to use my voice to advance Indigenous sovereign rights to tell our own stories.”

Added Swanson: “I look forward to continuing my work in service to Indigenous storytellers, and to the exciting next chapter of the ISO. I can’t thank Jesse enough for the rewarding partnership we have had and which will only continue in a new form.”