VANCOUVER, BC – May 21, 2026 – Creative BC today announced that Chief Executive Officer Prem Gill has decided to step down from her role, effective June 26, 2026. Gill’s departure marks the culmination of a decade of exceptional leadership that has profoundly shaped and grown British Columbia’s vibrant creative industries.
Under Gill’s visionary guidance, Creative BC has flourished, reinforcing its position as an industry catalyst, dedicated to uniting sustaining, and growing B.C.’s dynamic and diverse creative sector, including motion picture, music and sound recording, interactive and digital media, and magazine and book publishing. During her tenure, B.C.’s creative industries have consistently demonstrated robust growth, with the motion picture industry alone contributing approximately $3 billion in production volume annually and supporting a workforce of over 170,000 across the sector.
“Leading Creative BC for the past decade has been an immense privilege and the highlight of my career,” said Gill. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together – the resilience, innovation, and boundless talent of B.C.’s creative sector continually inspires me. While this was a difficult decision, I know that Creative BC is stronger than ever, poised for continued success, and in excellent hands. I look forward to seeing the continued growth of B.C.’s creative industries.”
Her strategic foresight and unwavering dedication also ensured Creative BC successfully navigated a challenging and evolving landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to reinforce the province’s position as a leading global production hub for content creation. This foundational work has set the stage for B.C.’s creative industries to continue to reach new heights of economic, social, and creative potential, collectively contributing over $7 billion to B.C.’s GDP and solidifying their role as a major economic driver.
Gill’s leadership has earned her significant recognition, including being named one of The Most Powerful Women in Canadian Entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter, featured in Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50, The Hollywood Reporter’s Canada’s Top 25 Entertainment Dealmakers and Decision-Makers, honoured with the 2025 ReelWorld Visionary Award, and recognized in Business in Vancouver’s BC500. Prior to her tenure at Creative BC, she had over two decades of experience in media and entertainment.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I want to express our profound gratitude to Prem for her transformative leadership over the past ten years,” said Bill Tam, Chair of the Creative BC Board of Directors. “Prem’s relentless advocacy and strategic acumen have been instrumental in elevating B.C.’s creative sector on both national and international stages, guiding us through significant change and opportunity. As we look to the future, we also recognize the exciting opportunity that new leadership brings to further build upon this strong foundation and propel B.C.’s creative economy into its next chapter of innovation and global influence.”
The Creative BC Board of Directors intends to name an Interim CEO by the end of May 2026. Gill will actively support this transition to ensure a seamless handover. Following the appointment of the Interim CEO, a comprehensive national search for a permanent CEO will begin.
– 30 –
About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent non-profit society created and supported by the province to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative industries: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The society delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. These activities include administration of the provincial government’s motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The society acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.’s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental, and creative potential both at home, and globally. Website: www.creativebc.com
Media Contact
Charmaine de Silva
Burson on behalf of Creative BC
Charmaine.desilva@bursonglobal.com
604-360-2328