Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Canada president, Paula Gignac, will step down after eight "ground-breaking years."

The IAB announced on Thursday that Gignac is stepping down as of Sept. 1. She is leaving the Greater Toronto Area, where the main IAB office is located, "in support of her partner who will pursue a master's degree elsewhere in Ontario."



It will be business as usual while the search for a new president is being conducted, noted the IAB. Meanwhile, Gignac, who hailed from Chatelaine before the IAB, will remain as a consultant for the organization, as well as lead representative for IAB's administration of DAAC's self-regulatory program for online behavioral advertising set to go live later this year.

News has just come in that Robert Kennedy, founder of Mississauga-based Robert Kennedy Publishing that created magazine titles such as MuscleMag International, Oxygen and American Curves, has passed away from complications due to skin cancer at the age of 73. Kennedy is one of the few Canadian publishers to have built a magazine business focused mostly on the U.S. market. Watch Masthead for more details.

Janice Biehn has been promoted to editor of ParentsCanada magazine, previously serving as managing editor, while the magazine makes a move from six to eight issues this year. Dr. Marla Shapiro, editor when the magazine launched in 2007, will remain on the masthead as founding editor. Bonnie Young has joined ParentsCanada in a sales capacity. Young comes from Canadian Geographic and TV Guide.


TC Media has announced the grouping of its 360 solutions and digital sales teams under one management team. As a result, Andrea Fernandes has been appointed vice president, 360 solutions and digital sales in Toronto, while Patricia Chateauneuf has become vice president, 360 solutions and digital sales in Montreal. Other Toronto team appointments include Connie Corner as sales manager, 360 solutions; Shira Biderman and William Cormier are now digital sales managers.

Kym Wyatt and Alyea Henderson have been nominated as account managers for the 360 Solutions Toronto team.


On the TC Media Montreal team, Emelie Brunet remains as director of digital sales; Genevieve Roy joins TC as account director of 360 solutions; Josee Rivest has been named team lead for the 360 solutions project coordinators.


Tony Cioffi has left his post as president of Reader's Digest Canada to pursue a "new business opportunity". He spent 14 years with the company.


Julie Osborne has been appointed vice president of business development at Rogers Publishing. Osborne joined Rogers Publishing in 2007 as associate publisher of Maclean's.

Guyitri Pooran has joined North Island Graphics Media (publisher of Masthead) as circulation manager. She was previously an administrative assistant with now-defunct Apex Publishing, which produced Dogs in Canada.