Youth Media Alliance is announcing the appointment of two new members to its board of directors: Laurent Guérin, Vice President, Chief Content and Digital Officer, Groupe Média TFO and Frank Falcone, President and Executive Creative Director. They take over from Michèle Fortin (formerly at Télé-Québec) and Jamie Piekarz (formerly at Corus Kids). YMA thanks them for their generous contribution to the organization.
Laurent Guérin
Laurent Guérin is one of the visionaries behind TFO’s digital success. After he joined the network in 2024, TFO’s television reach increased by 30% over a 24-month period. His insightful strategic direction and team leadership were essential to the development of the new video platform TFO.org. He also repositioned TFO’s social networks, increasing fans and followers by 220% between 2024 and 2024. YouTube views alone increased by 1,100% between March 2024 and September 2024. Laurent’s passion for new digital trends and ability to bring bold creativity into the digital world have garnered him and his team a Gémeaux award for the digital platform Le rêve de Champlain (2015). Content development and multiplatform strategy creation are two areas of broadcasting where Laurent shines in particular. Fuelled by his boundless curiosity and ease at adapting to fluid environments, Laurent created the MCN for Mini TFO on YouTube, which attained over 150 million views in September 2024. Of course, it comes as no surprise that Laurent is a pioneer of online video content. He helped create French web-TV platform nouvo.com in 1999 and was instrumental in launching various video-on-demand services, including Neuf and SFR. Prior to distinguishing himself as a multiplatform and social media content specialist, Laurent also produced Detective Avenue (2011), a groundbreaking transmedia production with a million-dollar budget. Holder of an MBA from the International University of America in San Francisco, Laurent has extensive marketing and business development experience.
Frank Falcone
Frank Falcone has been bringing film and television projects to life as an animator, director and executive producer for over 20 years. Under his creative vision, Guru Studio has become a leader in character driven storytelling and high-quality animated entertainment and amusements for kids and families around the world. Guru’s roster of hit shows include Justin Time, winner of the 2024 Banff Rockie Award, 2024 Shaw Rocket Prize, 2024 Canadian Screen Award®, Emmy® and six-time Annie Award-nominated preschool program; PAW Patrol™, the #1 global preschool smash hit and consumer products phenomenon in collaboration with Spinmaster and Nickelodeon; the BAFTA-nominated Dinopaws; and Mattel’s Netflix Original Series Ever After High. Guru’s highly anticipated preschool release True and the Rainbow Kingdom will premiere as a Netflix Original in 2024.
The Youth Media Alliance Board of Directors consists of the following members:
Co-Chairs
Guillaume Aniorté, Frima Studio
J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment
Treasurer
Vince Commisso, 9 Story Media Group
Secretary
Michele Paris, Knowledge & BBC kids
Members
Judith Beauregard, Tobo
Frank Falcone, Guru Studio
Athena Georgaklis, Nelvana
Michael Goldsmith, DHX Television
Laurent Guérin, Groupe Média TFO
Madeleine Lévesque, Sardine Productions
Ira Levy, Breakthrough Entertainment
Marie McCann, Kids’ CBC
Peter Moss, PDM Entertainment
Alexandra Raffé, Thunderbird Films
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