Blue Ant Media ups Jamie Schouela to global channels boss, Carlyn Staudt to oversee Love Nature

L-R: Jamie Schouela and Carlyn Staudt

Toronto-based producer, distributor and channel operator Blue Ant Media has promoted Jamie Schouela to president of global channels and media, while Carlyn Staudt has been made global general manager of its wildlife brand Love Nature.

In his new role, Schouela will lead the company’s streaming and linear television networks and digital platforms worldwide, as well as Blue Ant Media’s existing print products and consumer events.

Schouela joined Blue Ant Media in 2017 as president of Canadian media, where he has overseen the company’s Canadian television, media and consumer events businesses. In that role, he built partnerships that brought international players, such as Smithsonian Channel and BBC Earth, to Canada, and led the development the launch of homegrown brands like Love Nature and Makeful.

He is also credited with driving Blue Ant’s overall strategy to expand its brands on emerging platforms such as Amazon Channels, Apple TV+ and Roku.

Before joining Blue Ant, Schouela served as VP of marketing for Shaw Media and started his career at Alliance Atlantis, where he helped build a number of networks including Showcase, History Television and BBC Canada.

Staudt, meanwhile, will now head up Love Nature’s strategic direction and operations globally, including commissioning and development, programming, digital content, marketing and communications, as well as international affiliate sales.

She is promoted from her role as EVP of programming and development for the brand, a role in which she oversaw the global programming strategy of Love Nature’s linear platforms and commissioned original natural history programming content.

Prior to joining Blue Ant Media, Staudt held numerous leadership roles at National Geographic, including SVP of global programming and MD for National Geographic Channels International’s operations in Washington DC.

Now a member of Blue Ant Media’s corporate management team, Staudt will report to Schouela, who in turn will continue to report to Michael MacMillan, CEO and co-founder of Blue Ant Media.

“These promotions ladder up to Blue Ant Media’s commitment to streamlining its core priorities, which include content production, ownership and exploitation in all its forms,” said MacMillan. “Jamie and Carlyn have proven track records building successful media brands in North America and around the globe. I am pleased to see them at the helm of our channels business, propelling our company forward in our ever-changing industry.”

Love Nature, a joint venture between Blue Ant and Smithsonian Networks, reaches over 100 countries in total after launching to more than 25 African countries on pay-TV platform Les Bouquets Canal+ earlier this year.