Less than two weeks ago Sally Catto was onstage at CBC’s upfront at its Toronto headquarters, talking about new things happening at CBC Television this year and next. As it turns out, one of those things is Catto’s promotion to a broader role within the group.
Sally Catto
Catto has been named general manager of programming for CBC Television, effective Monday. The news was announced by CBC English Services executive vice-president Heather Conway at the Banff World Media Festival.
Most recently, Catto was CBC Television’s executive director, commissioned and scripted programming for the past two years. In that role, Catto supervised drama, children’s, comedy and some documentary programming.
In 2011, the former general manager role was divided in two between then-executive director, studio and unscripted programming Julie Bristow and then-interim executive director, commissioned and scripted programming Phyllis Platt. Catto now oversees those groups in her new role.
In the release about her new position, Catto acknowledged that it’s “a pivotal time for CBC” and that she’s keen to work with the independent production community and international partners “to create exceptional content for Canadians across the country.”
She took her first role at CBC in 2001, when she began as an executive in charge of production, drama in 2001. She later moved to roles as creative head of drama and executive director of arts and entertainment.
Before returning to CBC in June 2012, Catto was executive vice-president of Cineflix Studios.
She worked in film and television in a different capacity—as a literary agent—before she joined CBC. Before that, she had been a lawyer at Stikeman Elliott and Goodmans.
CBC spent several months conducting an international search to fill the general manager role. “The breadth of candidates we interviewed was most impressive but after a thorough search and careful consideration, I couldn’t be more pleased to appoint Sally to the role,” said Conway.
