Bell Media Chairman Sean Cohan has been named the next chairman of the Banff World Media Festival board of directors.
The former A&E Networks and Nielsen veteran replaces Kevin Beggs, chairman of Lionsgate Television Group, who served as Banff’s board chairman for three years. Beggs will continue to serve on the festival’s board while Cohan helps oversee the prestigious media festival as it navigates continued industry disruption in the streaming era.
“I look forward to collaborating with the team and continuing the work of the incomparable Kevin Beggs to expand Banff's global impact while highlighting the many opportunities that Canadian businesses, organizations and creatives bring to our industry,” Cohan said in a statement Thursday.
The Bell Media chief is aware of the industry’s transformation, having come aboard the Canadian media giant in November 2023, as U.S. streaming giants were capturing an ever-larger share of domestic TV viewers and as advertising revenue was increasingly shifting to foreign digital platforms like Google and Facebook.
“We are delighted to welcome Sean as our new president to lead Banff into its next chapter. As the media landscape continues to evolve, Sean’s forward-thinking vision and global perspective will be invaluable in shaping the future of the festival and driving innovation across the industry,” added Banff Executive Director Jenn Kuzmyk in her statement.
Cohan spent 15 years as president of A+E Networks, including chief growth officer and president of Nielsen, the data measurement and analytics giant.
The Banff World Media Festival will return next year from June 8-11.