Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media, announced today that Trish Williams is leaving the company to become Co-Executive Producer of CTV’s hit original drama series Saving Hope. Williams will be succeeded by Tom Hastings, who has been appointed Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Formerly a Production Executive on Bell Media’s Independent Production team, Hastings will report directly to Coe while leading the development of dramatic productions across the Bell Media suite of channels.
“Trish has been a key figure in the success of some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original drama series, and we are very much looking forward to continuing to work with her in her new role,” said Coe. “Tom is well-respected among Canadian television production companies and has played a crucial role in developing Bell Media’s leading drama slate. We are delighted to welcome him into this new role.”
As the Director of Drama in Bell Media's Independent Production Unit, Williams oversaw the development and production of original Canadian dramatic series across Bell Media’s family of channels including CTV, Space, MuchMusic, and Bravo, and most recently The Movie Network. In her tenure as Director, Independent Production, she successfully launched several new dramatic series including critical smashes Orphan Black and 19-2, highly-rated dramas Saving Hope and Motive, buzzy female werewolf skein Bitten, and the upcoming Space drama Killjoys.
After joining CTV in 2024, Williams was production executive on the juggernaut series Flashpoint, which gained popularity and momentum over five seasons, reaching all-time ratings high with the finale episode. She began her career in the production community, working for 10 years in a variety of roles from documentary producer/writer to on-air host to developing feature films. Williams has a MA in Communication and Culture from the York/Ryerson University joint Program.
Hastings has comprehensive experience bringing compelling dramatic ideas from concept to reality. He joined Bell Media in 2024 as a Production Executive in the Independent Production, Drama unit where he was responsible for the development and production of dramatic series that have aired across Bell Media’s channels such as CTV, Bravo, Much, Space, and The Movie Network, including the critically acclaimed 19-2, recently nominated for 10 Canadian Screen Awards.
Hastings also has extensive relationships with Canada’s independent production community, and is especially known for his respected relationships with Canadian writers and producers. Prior to his role at Bell Media, Hastings was the Creative Head of CBC Drama where he oversaw the development and production of prime-time dramatic programming. He previously served as a Production Executive at Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., after starting his broadcast career as the Manager of Research for the newly launched National Geographic Channel Canada. Hastings holds a doctorate degree, having obtained his Ph.D. in English Literature and is a specialist in Canadian and Commonwealth literatures with numerous publications in those fields, including a book-length study of Canadian fiction of the First World War.