Peter Vamos has been named executive director of the Banff World Television Festival, taking over from Jennifer Harkness who left the position in July. The appointment is effective mid-December.

Vamos joins Banff’s Toronto-based organizer Achilles Media after nearly 10 years at Playback and its parent Brunico Communications. He started as the magazine’s technology editor and was appointed editor in 2003, before taking on the publisher’s role in 2005.

‘We’re very excited to have someone of the pedigree of Peter. Playback has been a long and stable partner for the festival and through that lens Peter obviously knows the film and production community very well… I think he’ll be a great advocate for the cause,’ Achilles CEO Robert Montgomery tells Playback Daily.

‘I’m very excited to be joining the festival. Events like Banff have never been more important in helping the industry navigate these tough times in terms of networking, finding partners and gaining business insight,’ added Vamos.

The Banff festival will celebrate its 30th edition next year.