Catherine Tait
{{Short description|16th president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}
{{About||the English comedian and actress|Catherine Tate|the English philanthropist|Catharine Tait}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Catherine Tait
| image = Catherine Tait, The 2018 CFC Annual BBQ Fundraiser (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Tait at the CFC's Annual fundraiser, 2018
| office = 16th President of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
| term_start = July 3, 2018
| term_end = January 3, 2025
| predecessor = Hubert Lacroix
| successor = Marie-Philippe Bouchard
| office1 = 1st Chair of the Global Task Force for Public Media
| term_start1 = September 10, 2019
| term_end1 = December 19, 2024
| predecessor1 = Position established
| successor1 = Norbert Himmler
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1958}}
| birth_place = Athens, Attica, Greece
| death_date =
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| nationality = Canadian
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
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| occupation = Business executive
| spouse =
| children =
| mother =
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Catherine Tait (born 1958) is a Canadian business executive who formerly served as the 16th president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She succeeded Hubert Lacroix for the position after being appointed on April 3, 2018, and beginning her five-year mandate on July 3, 2018.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cbc-president-catherine-tait-1.4602504| title=Catherine Tait chosen as CBC/Radio-Canada president| date=April 3, 2018| website=CBC News|access-date=April 3, 2018}}{{Cite news|last=Stone|first=Laura|date=April 3, 2018|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-catherine-tait-to-become-cbc-president-the-first-woman-to-hold-role-2/|title=Catherine Tait to become CBC president, the first woman to hold role|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|access-date=April 3, 2018}} In June 2023, her mandate was renewed until January 2025.{{Cite news |last=Tasker |first=John Paul |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Catherine Tait staying on to lead CBC/Radio Canada — but with a shorter second mandate |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/catherine-tait-renewed-shortened-mandate-1.6862053 |access-date=December 6, 2024 |work=CBC News}} She was succeeded by former TV5 Québec Canada chief executive officer, Marie-Philippe Bouchard.{{Cite web |title=https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/media-centre/marie-philippe-bouchard-appointed-new-president-and-ceo |url=https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/media-centre/marie-philippe-bouchard-appointed-new-president-and-ceo |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=cbc.radio-canada.ca |language=en}}
Tait was a founder and served as the first chair of the Global Task Force for Public Media, an initiative of the Public Media Alliance launched in September 2019.{{Cite web |date=September 10, 2019 |title=Global Call Out |url=https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/global-call-out/ |access-date=April 29, 2020 |website=publicmediaalliance.org}} On December 19, 2024, she was succeeded in this role by ZDF Director-General Norbert Himmler.https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/zdfs-norbert-himmler-becomes-new-chair-of-global-task-force-for-public-media/{{Cite news |last=Sprenger |first=Damian |date=December 19, 2024 |title=ZDFs Norbert Himmler wird Kopf der GTF |url=https://www.blickpunktfilm.de/tv/oerr-zdfs-norbert-himmler-wird-kopf-der-gtf-5a9fcbda625448b6c762d9cadb26f2c4 |access-date=December 20, 2024 |work=Blickpunkt:Film |language=German}}
Education
Catherine Tait holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and philosophy from the University of Toronto, a Master of Science degree in public communications from Boston University, and a Diplôme d’Études Approfondies degree in communications theory from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/explore/senior-executive-team/catherine-tait/|title=Catherine Tait - Senior Executive Team|website=cbc.radio-canada.ca|access-date=December 3, 2018}}
Career
= Media and culture industry =
Prior to joining CBC/Radio-Canada, Catherine Tait had worked in film and television production in Canada and the U.S. for more than three decades.
She served as a manager of Policy and Planning at Telefilm Canada in the 1980s, before going on to become Director and Cultural Attaché with the Canadian Cultural Centre in France from 1989 to 1991.
In Canada, Tait was president and COO of Salter Street Films from 1997 to 2001, producing such shows as the long-running CBC comedy This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
In 2002, she and film producer Liz Manne co-founded New York–based Duopoly Inc., an independent film, television and digital content company. Tait served as president until 2018. She also co-founded digital content provider iThentic in 2006.
= President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada =
Catherine Tait presented her vision for the public broadcaster in May 2019, with the unveiling of the Corporation’s new strategic plan, Your Stories, Taken to Heart.{{Cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1167723/nouvelle-strategie-radio-canada-catherine-tait-rayonnement-mondial-production|title=Radio-Canada mise sur le rayonnement international|date=May 3, 2019|website=radio-canada.ca|language=fr|access-date=April 29, 2020}} The plan covers five priorities: global reach, digital, kids content, regions and diversity.{{Cite web|url=https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/vision/strategy/your-stories-taken-to-heart|title=Your Stories, Taken to Heart|website=cbc.radio-canada.ca|access-date=April 29, 2020}}
In a speech to the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Tait described how taking Canada to the world was the “spearhead”{{Cite web|url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/cbc-radio-canada-president-catherine-tait-presented-a-vision-for-a-thriving-canadian-cultural-sector-at-the-chamber-of-commerce-of-metropolitan-montreal/|title=Canadian Media & Awards News – CBC/Radio-Canada's Catherine Tait presents vision for cultural sector|date=May 9, 2019|website=Broadcast Dialogue|access-date=April 29, 2020}} of CBC/Radio-Canada’s strategic plan, in order to counter the competitive threat of the digital giants. Since being appointed Chair of the Global Task Force for Public Media in September 2019, Tait has signed collaboration agreements (co-development and content sharing) between CBC/Radio-Canada and other public broadcasters around the world, such as the ABC,{{Cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/06/10/cbc-announces-new-diversity-initiative-and-collab-with-australian-broadcaster/|title=CBC announces new diversity initiative and collab with Australian broadcaster|date=June 10, 2019|website=Toronto CityNews|access-date=April 29, 2020}} the BBC,{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/bbc-cbc-co-production-deal-1202642083/|title=BBC & Canada's CBC Strike Major Co-Production Agreement Across Drama, Docs & News|last=White|first=Peter|date=July 4, 2019|website=Deadline|access-date=April 29, 2020}} France Télévisions,{{Cite web|url=https://lienmultimedia.com/spip.php?article72662|title=Radio-Canada a conclu un partenariat avec France Télévisions|date=October 11, 2019|website=lienmultimedia.com|language=fr|access-date=April 29, 2020}} ZDF{{Cite web|url=https://realscreen.com/2020/02/25/cbc-boosts-collaboration-with-germanys-zdf/|title=CBC boosts collaboration with Germany's ZDF|date=February 25, 2020|website=Realscreen|access-date=April 29, 2020}} and RTBF.{{Cite news|date=June 30, 2020|title=Des séries d'ici à la conquête de la Belgique|work=Le Devoir}} In 2023, with ZDF, RTBF and SRG SSR as international partners, CBC/Radio-Canada launched the Public Spaces Incubator (PSI), a digital incubator to develop online tools to facilitate respectful online discourse. ARD and ABC joined PSI in 2024.{{Cite news |last=Sallhoff |first=Daniel |date=October 11, 2024 |title=Alternativen zu Facebook und Co.: Auch die ARD wirkt beim Forschungsprojekt "Public Spaces Incubator |url=https://meedia.de/news/beitrag/17907-alternativen-zu-facebook-und-co-auch-die-ard-wirkt-beim-forschungsprojekt-quot-public-spaces-incubator-quot-mit.html |access-date=December 6, 2024 |work=Meedia |language=German}}{{Cite news |last=Whittock |first=Jesse |date=May 29, 2024 |title=Canada's CBC On European Charm Offensive To Rally Support For Social Media Detox Initiative |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/social-media-detox-initiative-cbc-seeks-buy-in-bbc-france-televisions-1235942244/ |access-date=December 6, 2024 |work=Deadline}}
As part of the public broadcaster’s ongoing digital transformation, in September 2018, Tait announced a new streaming service, CBC Gem, at Content Canada, an industry event in collaboration with the Toronto International Film Festival. The service launched in December 2018.{{cite web| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/cbc-catherine-tait-gem-tv-streaming-app-1.4820239| title=Gem, CBC's rebranded TV app, to stream 'crown jewels of Canadian content'| website=cbc.ca| date=September 12, 2018}} Under her leadership, two new audio apps were developed – CBC Listen{{Cite web|url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2019/10/07/cbc-podcasts-app-cbc-listen/|title=CBC has a new podcasts app called CBC Listen|last=Bennett|first=Brad|date=October 7, 2019|website=mobilesyrup.com|access-date=April 29, 2020}} and Radio-Canada OHdio{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/201911/07/01-5248759-radio-canada-lance-lappli-ohdio.php|title=Radio-Canada lance l'appli Ohdio|last=Collard|first=Nathalie|date=November 7, 2019|website=La Presse|language=fr|access-date=April 29, 2020}} – providing a one-stop destination for all the public broadcaster’s audio content (music, podcasts and radio shows). Both apps were launched in fall 2019.
At the international Kidscreen Summit in February 2019, Tait committed to expanding the public broadcaster’s kids content offering, especially on CBC Gem.{{Cite web|url=https://kidscreen.com/2019/02/13/cbc-ramps-up-digital-kids-programming/|title=CBC ramps up digital kids programming|last=Dickson|first=Jeremy|date=February 13, 2019|website=kidscreen.com|access-date=April 29, 2020}} During her tenure, the Corporation also launched two news services for kids 13 and under: CBC Kids News{{Cite web|url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/youth-focused-cbc-kids-news-and-cbc-news-snapchat-discovery-launched|title=Youth-focused CBC Kids News and CBC News Snapchat Discovery launched|last=Thiessen|first=Connie|date=September 17, 2018|website=broadcastdialogue.com|access-date=April 29, 2020}} in 2018 and MAJ{{Cite web|url=https://www.artsetculture.ca/maj-parle-dactualite-aux-jeunes/|title=MAJ parle d'actualité aux jeunes|date=October 16, 2019|website=artsetculture.ca|language=fr|access-date=April 29, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Mon actualité du jour) in 2019.
In an interview with CBC/Radio-Canada reporters in Saskatchewan, Tait said she wanted to move more production to regional centres, particularly for radio and digital.{{Cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1182054/decentralisation-production-catherine-tait-regina-saskatchewan|title=Le diffuseur public met le cap vers une plus grande décentralisation|date=June 12, 2019|website=radio-canada.ca|language=fr|access-date=April 29, 2020}} This strategic priority has resulted in CBC stepping up its pop-up bureau approach at locations such as Stanley Mission, Saskatchewan;{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/community/stanley-mission-pop-up-bureau-1.5450053|title=CBC Saskatchewan's pop up bureau heading to Stanley Mission|date=February 10, 2020|website=CBC News|access-date=April 29, 2020}} Winkler and Morden, Manitoba;{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/community/cbc-manitoba-pop-up-winkler-morden-1.5389081|title=CBC Manitoba pop-up bureau sets up shop in Winkler and Morden|date=December 9, 2019|website=CBC News|access-date=April 29, 2020}} northeast Calgary; and the Tsuut’ina First Nation in Alberta.{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/podcast/-mobile-journalism-pop-up-bureaus-why-cbc-calgary-placed-a-reporter-in-an-underserved-community/s399/a750718/|title=How CBC Calgary connects with local communities through mobile journalism 'pop-up bureaus'|last=Granger|first=Jacob|date=January 24, 2020|website=journalism.co.uk|access-date=April 29, 2020}} CBC has also increased production outside Toronto, with the national radio show Cost of Living{{Cite web|url=https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/media-centre/standing-comittee-on-canadian-heritage-may|title=Speaking notes for Catherine Tait, President and CEO, at Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage|date=May 30, 2019|website=cbc.radio-canada.ca|access-date=April 29, 2020}} and the podcast West of Centre{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/press-release/cbc-calgary-launches-new-political-podcast-west-of-centre-hosted-by-kathlee|title=CBC Calgary launches new political podcast West of Centre hosted by Kathleen Petty|date=February 5, 2020|website=cbc.ca|access-date=April 29, 2020}} both being produced out of Calgary. The public broadcaster’s French-language network, Radio-Canada, has added new videojournalists in Yellowknife and Iqaluit to cover the North, as well as a more mobile workforce at its Abitibi-Témiscamingue station.{{Cite web|url=https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/your-public-broadcaster/blog/local-news-digital|title=Radio-Canada on the ground: rethinking local news in the digital age|last1=Faille-Lefrançois|first1=Julien|last2=Courcy|first2=Roch|date=October 2, 2019|website=cbc.radio-canada.ca|access-date=April 29, 2020}}
In 2019, Tait was criticized for allegedly likening Netflix's influence to cultural imperialism in India and parts of Africa. She said "There was a time when cultural imperialism was absolutely accepted. Fast forward to what happens after imperialism and the damage that can do to local communities. So all I would say is, let us be mindful of how it is we as Canadians respond to global companies coming into our country."{{cite web| url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/cbc-president-tait-warns-of-cultural-imperialism-danger-from-netflix| title=CBC president Catherine Tait compares Netflix to colonialism of the British and French empires| website=nationalpost.com| date=January 31, 2019}} TV critic John Doyle responded: "CBC Television’s weakness is its commitment to ordinary, middling-good TV, and it has become complacent about middling success."{{cite web| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-cbcs-problem-is-complacency-not-netflix-imperialism/| title=CBC's problem is complacency not imperialism| website=theglobeandmail.com| date=February 6, 2019}}
In June 2023, Tait's contract was renewed with a shortened mandate while a successor would be found.{{Cite news |last=Tasker |first=John Paul |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Catherine Tait staying on to lead CBC/Radio Canada — but with a shorter second mandate |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/catherine-tait-renewed-shortened-mandate-1.6862053 |access-date=October 22, 2024 |work=CBC News |language=en-CA}}
In December 2023, Tait announced a {{CAD}}125 million budget shortfall for the 2024-2025 fiscal year,{{Cite web |last=Tunney |first=Catharine |date=December 4, 2023 |title=CBC/Radio-Canada to cut 10 percent of workforce, end some programming as it faces $125M budget shortfall |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cbc-radio-canada-layoffs-budget-1.7048530 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=CBC News}} and notified the public that 10% of CBC staff would likely lose their jobs due to cut backs. Tait was eventually summoned to a House of Commons committee to answer questions related to the executives performance pay.{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2023 |title=CBC head Catherine Tait summoned to Commons committee over job cuts, executive bonuses |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cbc-president-called-to-committee-job-cuts-1.7052216 |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=CBC.ca}} In April 2024, after receiving an additional {{CAD}}42 million from the federal government, Tait said that significant job cuts were no longer needed.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2024 |title=Federal budget boosts funding for CBC/Radio-Canada, executives say significant job cuts no longer needed |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/federal-budget-cbc-funding-1.7175927 |access-date=May 28, 2024 |website=CBC News}} Tait's performance pay is determined by the federal government, following a review by the board of directors.{{Cite news |last=Lévesque |first=Catherine |date=January 30, 2024 |title=CBC head Catherine Tait tells MPs it's not her decision if she gets 'a bonus or not' amid planned layoffs |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/cbc-head-catherine-tait-pay-bonus |work=National Post}} After CBC/Radio-Canada paid out $18.4 million in performance pay to nearly 1,200 employees for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the federal government would not disclose if Tait had received one, but a spokesman stated Tait had not received any performance pay for two years.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Stephanie |date=August 15, 2024 |title=No decision made on bonus for CBC President Catherine Tait for past two years, says federal government |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/bonus-cbc-ceo-catherine-tait |access-date=October 22, 2024 |work=National Post}}
On October 22, 2024, it was announced that Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of TV5 Québec Canada, would succeed Tait as president for a five-year term, effective January 3, 2025.{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2024 |title=Marie-Philippe Bouchard to become the next President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2024/10/marie-philippe-bouchard-to-become-the-next-president-and-ceo-of-cbcradio-canada.html |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=www.canada.ca}}{{Cite news |date=October 22, 2024 |title=Marie-Philippe Bouchard named next president, CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-marie-philippe-bouchard-named-next-president-ceo-of-cbcradio-canada/ |access-date=October 22, 2024 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}
References
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