Thunderbird goes with promotions

Vancouver-based prodco Thunderbird Entertainment Group’s factual division has promoted its senior VP and VP to the roles of president and chief operating officer, respectively.

David Way

David Way, previously senior VP, has been upped to the role of president and Wendy McKernan, previously VP, has been named COO at Thunderbird factual arm Great Pacific Media.

In his new role, Way will oversee IP development and new original content production, and will develop and manage strategic relations with external partners.

McKernan will oversee all production at Great Pacific, including lifestyle and factual programming. She is also a senior member of a team that is developing fact-based events into scripted projects. Both McKernan and Way report to the division’s CEO, Mark Miller.

Way first joined Great Pacific in 2015 as creative director and led the development of multiple series, including Heavy Rescue: 401 (Discovery Canada), $ave My Reno and WorstToFirst (both HGTV) and the upcoming Mud Mountain (Discovery Canada).

Wendy McKernan

Since 2016, Way has also executive produced five of the division’s recently commissioned long-running series, in addition to the upcoming expedition documentary The Teenager & the Lost Maya City (CBC).

McKernan joined Great Pacific in 2013 and has played a key role in developing the company’s talent recruitment system, business affairs and production management system.

Before joining Thunderbird, McKernan worked in both scripted and factual television with many of the industry’s leading studios and broadcasters.