2027 Jury

Jay Bennett
SVP, franchise strategy and innovation
Shaftesbury

Jay Bennett is an Emmy Award-winning producer and media strategist with more than
20 years of experience at the intersection of story, audience, technology and business.
Throughout his career, he has focused on extending stories onto new platforms and into
new forms of engagement - not simply to generate awareness, but to create meaningful
audience experiences, grow fandom and build lasting value around IP.
As SVP, Franchise Strategy & Innovation at Shaftesbury, Jay is responsible for turning
the company’s IP into larger, more connected franchise opportunities - bringing together
audience strategy, partnerships, new business models and experiences beyond the
screen.

At the heart of his work is a belief that a modern franchise should have many front
doors. Audiences may discover a story through television, YouTube, gaming, podcasts,
toys, social or live experiences — and each should offer something meaningful in its
own right while deepening their connection to the storyworld.

This philosophy is reflected in the continued expansion of Murdoch Mysteries. Over the
past 18 months alone, Jay has played a leading role in accelerating and shaping the
franchise strategy — expanding its reach across a new podcast, live concerts, a board
game, education initiatives, new brand partnerships, stage and immersive experiences,
while creating stronger connections between each.

Catherine Laporte
Chief marketing and digital officer
RONA

Catherine Laporte is a marketing and e-commerce expert who is known for her leadership, creativity, and business acumen. She joined RONA in 2018 as Divisional Vice-President, E-

Commerce. She was appointed Vice-President, Marketing in 2019 and promoted to Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Customer Experience in February 2024. In this role, she oversees the development of the RONA and Réno-Dépôt brands, while actively participating in the rollout of the new RONA+ banner, which demonstrates the company’s renewed commitment to the iconic RONA brand.

Catherine first made her mark at the ALDO Group where she tested the launching the Little Burgundy and Locale brands and contributed to the development of the Call It Spring brand in North America and internationally. Before joining RONA, she was Vice-President, Marketing and E-Commerce at DAVIDsTEA, where she worked to create a customer-focused centre of excellence. Catherine is a graduate of the John Molson School of Business and is actively involved in the Montréal community as a board member of the Fondation petits trésors. In addition, she is a sponsor for the RONA’s LGBTQ2+ BRG, member of the board for Éducaloi, and chair of the board for the RONA Foundation since February 2024.