Davies Named VP Programming for XM Canada

XM Satellite Radio's Canadian licensee on Thursday said it has hired Michael Washinushi as chief financial officer of its Canadianized satellite radio service.

Washinushi joining XM Canada follows stints as executive VP of Scott's REIT and director of development and acquisitions at Priszm Canadian Income Fund. Both companies manage a portfolio of real estate holdings.

XM Canada, which will launch an 80-channel subscription radio service for Canadians before Christmas, also hired Stewart Lyons, formerly at Scotia Capital, as executive VP responsible for legal and regulatory affairs.

The executive suite also will see Colin Bettam come on board as senior VP of marketing and sales, after serving as VP of marketing at Coors Canada, and Ross Davies as VP of programming. A former VP of programming at CHUM Radio, Davies most recently operated his own broadcast consulting company.

Other XM Canada appointments include Melissa Clark as VP of retail sales and distribution and Paul Williams as VP of network sales.

Both Washington-based XM Satellite Radio and New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio overcame the objections of Canadian broadcasters and earned licenses to operate their respective Canadianized subscription radio services.

Sirius Canada, the domestic version of the U.S. satellite radiio service, is also expected to shortly launch its own Canadianized service.