Nicole Bell to succeed Andrew Peterson as head of YouTube’s Canadian business

YouTube has named long-serving exec Nicole Bell as the head of its Canadian operation.

Nicole Bell

Bell, who has been with the Google-owned platform for 10 years, most recently as head of reputation and responsibility communications, landed the role after an internal and external recruitment process.

In the position, she will lead the team “dedicated to empowering Canadian storytellers to scale their reach and transform their creativity into global media businesses,” in addition to leading the domestic launch of new features and products, said YouTube.

Bell succeeds Andrew Peterson, who vacated the post in October after being promoted to head of creator economy ecosystem, based in New York.

During her tenure, Bell has been involved in key local initiatives including the launch of the Toronto YouTube Space in 2016, as well as working on Canadian creator events such as YouTube FanFest and collaborating with creators like Lilly Singh, Aysha Harun, Asap SCIENCE and Doctor Mike.

“Canada is home to some of the most innovative and influential creators in the world. It’s also home to some of the finest journalism, most exciting sports content and groundbreaking musical artists. These are entrepreneurs building legacies and trusted news companies finding new audiences,” said Bell in a LinkedIn post announcing the move.

“I’m stepping into this role with a deep sense of responsibility and a sharp focus on what’s next. I want to foster a digital ecosystem that is as responsible as it is inspiring and to ensure Canada remains at the forefront of the global digital economy.”