Barb Matheson Email & Phone Number

Toronto, On, Ca

As a member of Touchwood PR’s senior leadership team, I oversee & work on various film & streaming titles and projects, with a primary focus on the Netflix Canada account.

As director of this creative agency, I’ve been able to leverage my experience on the client side to make sure the relationships we share with our own clients are always highly valued, collaborative & transparent. My PR & experiential marketing background helps to ensure our creative work conveys clear, effective messaging and that an engaging narrative remains consistent throughout our incredible designs. Past & current clients include The Bay, Canadian Tire, Kraft Heinz, Netflix, TIFF and Touchwood PR to name a few.I also provide bespoke entertainment-related PR services in the areas of film, television and streaming through key client partnerships, including as the Canadian PR Lead for Apple TV+ and as VP, Publicity & Promotions for Touchwood PR focusing on the Netflix Canada account (Jan 2023 - present).

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I supported the Apple Canada team by managing publicity & media relations for 13 films and 48 series including Spirited, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Severance and Bad Sisters, to name a few.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

As the Canadian head of publicity and promotions for Walt Disney Studios, I created and directed the national publicity & promotions strategy for the Studio’s roster of films and home entertainment releases from Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm. This also entailed social media and experiential marketing efforts for some of the biggest film releases of all time, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Marvel’s The Avengers, Frozen and Beauty and the Beast, to name just a few.Key highlights:• Led & directed Canadian publicity opportunities, from PA tours to film junkets, set visits, film festivals (TIFF and more) and attendance for Canadian media at key U.S. and international Studio and external events (premieres, Comic Con, D23 etc.) • Liaised & effectively collaborated with U.S.-based counterparts, teams, filmmakers and talent representatives. Cultivated excellent relationships with Canadian media.• Represented Canada at the Studio’s executive leadership conferences & summits• Led & oversaw local promotions activities, partnerships and screening programs across Canada• Led & oversaw the experiential marketing strategy and activations across Canada• Directed the social media strategy (editorial) and oversaw the creation of locally relevant digital content • Led a team of four and directed a Montreal-based PR agency and Toronto-based experiential marketing agency• Built integrated marketing programs with other areas of the Canadian marketing team to ensure unified and efficient campaigns that leveraged synergies and maximized reach

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I led and executed the national publicity strategy for all Entertainment One film releases and directed corporate communications for the company.Key highlights:• Planned, directed and executed all publicity events, including press days & film junkets, from liaising with talent & making travel arrangements to booking interview schedules, securing filming locations, hiring of camera crews, makeup artists & security• Directed media relations and represented talent & filmmakers during TIFF and secured interviews for Canadian media at other domestic & international film festivals, including Sundance and Cannes.• Developed solid relationships with Canadian, U.S. and international studio partners, suppliers, producers and various representatives• Creation & distribution of press releases communicating eOne’s corporate messaging, strategy, acquisitions and start of production plans• Supervised a publicity assistant and two external PR agencies• Created a new media site and company-wide employee newsletter

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A contract position covering a maternity leave in which I directed the publicity strategy for Odeon Films' (Alliance Films) slate of 40+ theatrical releases. I was also the primary contact for our U.S. studio partners, which included Focus Features and Picturehouse.Key highlights:• Established strong relationships with the Canadian film and entertainment media & generated substantial coverage of our films• Planned, led & executed press days & film junkets, including liaising with talent & filmmakers and/or their representatives, travel arrangements, booking of interviews, hiring of camera crews, artists, security, cars & staff, talent handling & securing of locations• Booked and organized press screenings & ensured media attendance• Supervised a support staff of three & directed regional publicists• Directed media relations & represented talent and filmmakers at TIFF & other Canadian festivals, as well as secured interviews for Canadian media at international festivals including Sundance and Cannes• Provided creative input to promotions and marketing initiatives

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Working alongside the VP, Communication, I played a key role in all corporate communications activities for this major Canadian radio & television broadcaster encompassing company acquisitions, sales, major sponsorships, investor relations and publicity for our executive leadership team.Key highlights:• Managed & executed external communications and media relations, including press releases, appointment notices, executive bios, corporate sponsorships, advertising & media requests• Managed interviews & photo shoots with CHUM Limited executives• Managed the day-to-day activities of the corporate communications department, including the duties of a publicity coordinator• Involved in the company’s investor relations activities including the annual report & quarterly earnings conference calls• Managed content on the corporate website and coordinated the launch of a new investor relations website• Member of a three-person committee established to create and launce a company-wide intranet with responsibility for copy & content

As publicist, I developed and executed plans to increase brand awareness of CHUM Television domestically and internationally relating to programming, program sales, interactive digital and acquisitions.Key highlights:• Organized photo shoots and media interviews• Composed press releases, advertising copy, appointment notices and executive bios• Executed national sponsorship agreements• Responsible for corporate website updates and content

I was responsible for the national promotion of programming & on-air talent on these two CHUM Television stations.Key highlights:• Created publicity materials, including press releases, bios, program synopses & weekly programming highlights• Media relations: pitched story ideas & coordinated interviews, responded to inquiries, provided programming materials• Coordinated on-air talent appearances and publicity opportunities• Provided PR support to various CHUM Television events including the MuchMusic Video Awards and TIFF events (Festival Schmooze)

I supported the publicity and promotions teams and two directors in all areas of day-to-day operations.Key highlights:• Created media releases, on-air talent bios, media kits & copy for the Citytv website• Had sole ownership of the station’s philanthropic Living City Task Force program, managing monthly events from concept to completion• Coordinated on-air talent appearances, photo shoots, station promotions & events• Responsible for procuring prize packages for use in on-air promotions (negotiating contra deals)• Approved & coordinated donation requests• Responded to viewer inquiries• Media monitoring (the old school way – with actual newspapers, photocopiers and scotch tape)

Certificate, Public Relations

B.Ed, Elementary Education And Teaching

Education

Education record