Bell Media’s Leadership Transition: Sean Cohan to Take Helm After Wade Oosterman Retires

Bell Media has revealed that its current president Wade Oosterman who also doubles up as the vice-chair of the company’s parent company BCE Inc. (TSE: BCE) will be retiring at the end of the year and he will be succeeded by Sean Cohan who joins the company next month.

In a press statement by the company, Cohan will join the BCE leadership team starting November 1 while Oosterman will remain in his role until January 2024 to ensure a smooth transition.

Wade Oosterman has been a prominent figure in the Canadian media landscape for decades. His tenure at the company was marked by numerous achievements, including securing exclusive content deals, expanding the company’s digital presence, and overseeing the successful launch of streaming service Crave.

In a public statement, BCE president and CEO thanked Oosterman for his leadership in making Bell a strong competitor in Canadian communications and media including playing a significant role in the transformation of Bell Media.

The announcement of Oosterman’s retirement comes at a time when the media industry is undergoing significant transformations, with the rise of streaming services and changing consumer habits. Bell Media, like many other media companies, faces the challenge of staying competitive in this fast evolving industry.

Earlier in the year, the company announced it would be closing or selling 9 radio stations as an approach to significantly adapt how it delivers the news and trimmed 1,300 job positions including a 6% reduction at Bell Media.