Blue Ant leadership shake-up following High Fidelity acquisition

August 8, 2012 by Danielle Ng-See-Quan

Blue Ant Media

Blue Ant Media CEO Michael MacMillan has announced management changes, including the departure of GlassBox Television founder Jeffrey Elliott and High Fidelity HDTV co-founders Ken Murphy and John Panikkar from their positions.

The shakeup follows the merger of the company’s recently acquired High Fidelity HDTV with GlassBox Television under Blue Ant Media.

Raja Khanna, formerly GlassBox Television CEO, takes the new position of CEO of television and digital at Blue Ant Media, and remains on the company’s board of directors.

Rob Chase will continue as Blue Ant Media COO, overseeing corporate development and working with the television and digital management team, while Frank Bertolas becomes Blue Ant Media exec VP and CFO.

Founder, president and chief strategy officer Elliott leaves his position at the company to focus on digital media and next generational television applications, according to a statement from GlassBox. Elliott remains a shareholder in Blue Ant Media and will continue to work with the company on a consulting basis.

“As founder of GlassBox Television, Jeffrey Elliott had a vision on which he has made a terrific contribution to Blue Ant Media and to the Canadian media scene overall. We thank him for his dedication and wish him continued success going forward,” said MacMillan in a statement.

Also departing their positions are High Fidelity HDTV CEO and co-founder Ken Murphy and co-founder John Panikkar. Murphy and Panikkar will become Blue Ant Media shareholders, and Murphy will join the company’s board of directors.

Meanwhile, former Score Media senior VP and general counsel Asha Daniere has also joined the company in the newly created position of exec VP of business and legal affairs, television and digital, working closely with Robb Chase to support corporate development; while Ryan Fuss, former Glam Media Canada MD of Canada sales, comes on board as VP of digital sales, television and digital.

Elsewhere, Vanessa Case becomes Blue Ant Media exec VP of programming and marketing, television and digital; while Simon Foster has been appointed senior VP of publishing and business development, television and digital.

Other Blue Ant Media appointments include Wayne Scrivens as senior VP of technology, television and digital; Anna Carbone as VP of television sales, television and digital; and Andrew Irwin, promoted to VP of content and distribution partnerships, television and digital.

Blue Ant Media completed the CAD$85 million purchase of High Fidelity HDTV last week, adding four high definition channels to the company’s roster of GlassBox Television specialty properties, including Travel+Escape, Bite TV and AUX TV.

Tags: Blue Ant Media, High Fidelity HDTV