Peter Degroot Email & Phone Number

Toronto, On, Ca

Toronto, On, Ca

As a key member of the executive team reporting directly to the President and CEO, I am responsible for overseeing the company's technology domain across Canada, including applications, operations, infrastructure, data analytics, and procurement. My role involves strategizing and implementing technological visions, leading major transformation projects, managing risks, ensuring stringent security and compliance standards, and optimizing shared services.

Toronto, On, Ca

As Vice President of Strategy, I led the strategic direction and governance of the IT department. My role was instrumental in aligning Postmedia's technology and business application portfolio with the company's strategic goals, thereby ensuring a cohesive and forward-thinking technology landscape.

Toronto, On, Ca

In my role as Vice President of Digital Media and Emerging Technology, I was at the forefront of transforming Postmedia into Canada's leading digital news and information entity. My leadership was pivotal in developing and managing a diverse digital product portfolio across multiple platforms, including print, web, and mobile devices. I oversaw the strategic planning and execution of over 200 brands, encompassing areas like Product Development, R&D, Solutions, Design, Development, Engineering, and Operations.

Winnipeg, Mb, Ca

Canwest, Canada's largest media company during my tenure, was a dynamic industry leader operating a comprehensive media portfolio that encompassed 20 television channels, including the esteemed Global Television Network, and 18 specialty channels. Additionally, Canwest held a prominent position as Canada's largest publisher of paid English-language daily newspapers, complemented by the operation of the expansive digital portal Canada.com and its network of 80 associated websites. Internationally, Canwest boasted significant ownership and operations in TV, out-of-home advertising, websites, radio stations, and networks across various countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S., which included assets from Alliance Atlantis and Fireworks Entertainment.During my tenure, I served as the VP of Interactive and Emerging Technology. In this role, I was instrumental in navigating the company through the digital revolution. I led pioneering initiatives to engage the 'New Digital Consumer,' developing innovative digital assets that effectively catered to diverse content consumption patterns across various devices. My efforts were acknowledged with the prestigious 'Izzy Award' by the Board of Directors of CanWest Global Communications Corp., signifying exceptional contributions to innovation and community service.

Winnipeg, Mb, Ca

As VP of Technology at Canwest, I spearheaded significant transformation projects, standardizing and integrating a wide range of newly acquired Newspaper, Television, and Online Assets. My leadership was pivotal in migrating these assets onto a unified platform, resulting in the consolidation of 25 disparate systems into a single, efficient system. This role also involved managing a diverse brand portfolio of major networks and newspapers across Canada which included: Global Television Network, E! Entertainment Television, Showcase, Slice, HGTV Canada, TVtropolis, and 13 major city Daily Newspapers spanning from Vancouver to Montreal, and the National Post.

At Hollinger Capital, the venture investment arm of Hollinger International Inc., a leading global media conglomerate, I played a critical role in managing and growing a dynamic portfolio of $100 million in diverse assets. My tenure here was marked by a series of high-impact initiatives and strategic investments that consistently yielded annual returns exceeding 39%, significantly contributing to the company's financial robustness.Led cross-functional teams in the successful development and launch of groundbreaking electronic media assets. This includes the pioneering Canada.com in April 1998, a trailblazer in digital news platforms, and faceoff.com, a highly acclaimed hockey portal developed in collaboration with hockey icon Wayne Gretzky.Orchestrated the exponential growth of Canada.com, steering it to become Canada's leading network of national and local internet portals. Under my leadership, the site achieved 69 million monthly page views, culminating in its profitable sale.As a key member of the venture capital group, I focused on technology startups, enhancing our due diligence processes across North America and Europe. My role was instrumental in identifying and nurturing high-potential ventures, providing strategic advisory services that were pivotal to their growth.Successfully managed a diverse investment portfolio, including high-profile ventures such as Brainhunter.com, TheTrip, Interactive Investor, ThirdAge.com, Dealtime.com, and Vault.com, each marking significant milestones in the digital landscape.

Led First Formal Online Strategy:Pioneered and orchestrated the development of Southam Inc.'s inaugural formal online strategy, charting a transformative course for the organization's digital presence and engagement. This strategic initiative laid the foundation for digital growth, innovation, and enhanced online audience reach.Honoured as corporate ‘Outstanding Employee of the Year’:Recognized and celebrated as the recipient of the prestigious 'Outstanding Employee of the Year' award within the corporate setting, underscoring the exceptional contributions and commitment that consistently surpassed expectations and made a significant impact on the organization's success.

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