Global commercial production company CANADA is expanding its U.S. leadership team with the addition of Kristen Bedard-Johnson as Executive Producer.
Based in New York, Bedard-Johnson will oversee the company’s East Coast operations and report to Managing Director/Executive Producer Charlotte Woodhead in Los Angeles.
Bedard-Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience across live-action production, talent management and creative partnerships. Over the course of her career, she has produced global campaigns with leading directors and agencies, with work recognized by Cannes Lions, AICP, D&AD and the Clio Awards.
“I am so thrilled to be joining CANADA, a production company that is at the top of their game,” Bedard-Johnson said. “Charlotte’s leadership is my kind of leadership. She’s built a strong team with outstanding directors, amazing production capabilities and a singular vision to produce commercials that are consistently creative and powerful. I’m proud to be a new part of the CANADA crew. I have found my place.”
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Woodhead said the hire comes as CANADA continues to scale its U.S. business.
“We’ve been growing so quickly. We had to expand our executive production force,” she said. “Kristen is joining CANADA to help us continue and build our strong momentum. She has the experience and the expertise curating and nurturing directors and developing partnerships with agencies and brands. She also has the guts and determination to take charge and help lift us to the next level.”
With Bedard-Johnson joining Woodhead, Bridgitte Pugh and Ellie Bartlett, CANADA now has an all-female, four-person executive production team overseeing its U.S. operations.
The appointment follows a strong year for the company both creatively and commercially. CANADA finished in the top three for the 2026 Cannes Lions Palme d’Or for Production Company of the Year and was also named to Ad Age’s Top 10 U.S. Production Companies of the Year list.
The company also collected major craft honors across the ADC Annual Awards, The One Show and the Clio Awards, including a Grand Prix in Film Craft for its Hornbach campaign.
At Cannes Lions, CANADA earned a Grand Prix for music video work along with Gold, Silver and Bronze Lions across production and film craft, including recognition for work tied to the Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show.
The company was also named Best Music Video Production Company at the Kinsale Shark Awards, where it won the show’s Grand Prix, and earned 13 D&AD Pencils for work with brands including Hornbach and artists including Rosalía.
Bedard-Johnson’s arrival gives CANADA another senior production leader in the U.S. as the company looks to build on that momentum across agency, brand and director relationships.
