LOS ANGELES, August 10, 2026 – The global commercial production company CANADA, following a year of tremendous growth and creative output, is strengthening its offering in the U.S. Veteran New York based producer Kristen Bedard-Johnson has joined the company in the capacity of Executive Producer. Bedard-Johnson will manage CANADA’s operations on the East Coast and will report to Managing Director/Executive Producer Charlotte Woodhead, who is based in the company’s Los Angeles office. Bedard-Johnson brings more than two decades of experience in live-action production, talent management, and creative partnerships. She has produced global campaigns in partnership with world-renown directors and agencies earning recognition from Cannes Lions, AICP, D&AD, and the Clios.
“I am so thrilled to be joining CANADA, a production company that is at the top of their game,” said Bedard-Johnson. “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.”
“We’ve been growing so quickly. We had to expand our executive production force,” said Woodhead. “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. We now have an all-female, four-person executive production team running our operations here in the U.S. It’s a good spot to be in.”
In addition to Woodhead, the CANADA executive production team in the U.S. includes Bridgitte Pugh and Ellie Bartlett. Bedard-Johnson joins the company as it celebrates a banner year in business growth and awards. CANADA made the top-three finish at the 2026 Cannes Lions Palme d’Or for best production company of the year and was named to Ad Age’s Top 10 US Production Company of the Year list. CANADA also swept major craft categories at three New York shows, including the ADC Annual Awards, The One Show and The Clio Awards, where they took home the coveted Grand Prix in Film Craft for their Hornbach campaign.
At the Cannes Lions Festival, CANADA won a Grand Prix for excellence in music video as well as Gold, Silver and Bronze Lions for achievement in production and film craft, including a standout campaign for the Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show. At the Kinsale Shark Awards CANADA was named the Best Music Video Production Company of the year and won the show’s Grand Prix. They also hauled in 13 D&AD Pencils for their work with brands such as Hornbach and artists such as Rosalía.
