Doug Smith has been named Vice President and General Sales Manager, CBS Studios International, Canada, it was announced today by Armando Nuñez, President, CBS Studios International, to whom he will report.
In this position, Smith, who will be based in CBS Studios International’s Toronto office, will lead the division’s sales and distribution activities across all platforms throughout Canada.
Smith succeeds veteran CBS Studios International executive Bruce Swanson, who earlier announced his intention to retire following 25 years with CBS.
“Bruce is a legendary Canadian distribution executive who has been an invaluable asset to our company for over 25 years,” said Armando Nuñez, President, CBS Studios International. “His integrity and dedication over the years to clients as well as colleagues is second to none and he has left a successful and indelible mark on our company. With a career spanning four decades, he has witnessed the continuing transformation of the business from traditional broadcast to the digital world we live in today. Throughout it all he has maintained his passion and enthusiasm for television and its business. We wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement. He will be greatly missed but always remembered.”
“We are fortunate and thrilled to find an executive the caliber of Doug Smith to succeed Bruce in Canada. His broad range of experience and successful sales track record will be instrumental in driving revenues and continuing to strengthen our brand in Canada. Doug’s passion and expertise will be an invaluable addition to our Canadian business as well as our international management/sales team,” said Nuñez.
Smith is recognized as an industry leader in rights negotiations and content exploitation across both conventional and emerging platforms. Prior to joining CBS Studios International, Smith ran his own consultancy company, advising leading Canadian media companies such Cineplex Entertainment, Corus Entertainment and Rogers Communications among others.
From 2006-2008, Smith was Executive Vice President, Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution Income Trust where he managed daily operations across offices in Toronto, Montreal, London and Madrid before his focus shifted to the sale of the business to Goldman Sachs.
He joined Alliance Releasing in 1997, rising to the rank of Senior Vice President, representing major U.S. television studios including Endemol Entertainment USA and CBS Broadcast International where he sold “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The King of Queens,” “Survivor” as well as all three of the “CSI” franchise series throughout the Canadian territories. He also created and developed Video on Demand strategies and is credited for negotiating the first studio VOD deal in Canada.
Smith’s career in international distribution began in 1994 when he joined Ellis Entertainment in Toronto, responsible for importing programming from a library of the top international producers to broadcasters in Canada while also pre-selling original Canadian series to the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Swanson, long considered the face of CBS Studios International in Canada, will remain with CBS for a short period to ensure a seamless transition. He has been with CBS and its various predecessor companies through various mergers and ownership changes (Worldvision, Spelling, Paramount, CBS Paramount, CBS Studios International) since 1986 when he started at Worldvision’s Toronto office, selling “All My Children,” “General Hospital” and the Hanna Barbera library of cartoons to Canadian markets.
