Sean Cohan to Chair Banff World Media Festival Board

As a seasoned gamer with an eye for industry trends, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement about Sean Cohan’s new role as the chair of the Banff World Media Festival‘s board of directors. With his extensive background at A&E Networks and Nielsen, not to mention his recent stint at Bell Media amidst the tumultuous shift in the media landscape, he seems like the perfect person to lead this prestigious festival into its next chapter.


The president of Bell Media, Sean Cohan, has been appointed as the future chairman of the board of directors for the Banff World Media Festival.

A seasoned veteran from A&E Networks and Nielsen has taken over the position previously held by Kevin Beggs, the chair of Lionsgate Television Group. Beggs will remain on the board of the Banff festival, assisting the newcomer as they guide the esteemed media event through the ongoing disruptions in the streaming industry.

Cohan expressed his excitement about working together with the team and furthering the outstanding work of Kevin Beggs to broaden Banff’s influence worldwide, while highlighting the numerous possibilities that Canadian businesses, groups, and artists offer our field,” stated Cohan on Thursday.

The head of Bell Media is well-aware of industry changes, as he joined the Canadian media conglomerate in November 2023 when U.S. streaming services were growing their control over domestic television viewership, and advertising revenue was moving more towards international digital platforms such as Google and Facebook.

We’re thrilled to introduce Sean as our new leader who will steer Banff through its upcoming phase. Given the rapidly changing nature of media, Sean’s progressive mindset and international outlook will be essential in molding the future of the festival and promoting creativity across the industry,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director of Banff, in a separate announcement.

For fifteen years, Cohan held various positions at A+E Networks, among them being the president of international and digital media. Subsequently, he took on the roles of chief growth officer and president at Nielsen, a leading company specializing in measurement and data analysis.

The Banff World Media Festival will return next year from June 8 to 11.

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2024-09-12 17:25