Cineplex's former marketing VP assumes CEO role at Richmond Hill Public Library

Many applicants were interviewed on a national level for the position, according to the library

Yorkregion.com
July 8, 2020
Sheila Wang

Richmond Hill Public Library Board has appointed a new chief executive officer, the highest-ranking position left vacant for months following the retirement of the former CEO Louise Procter Maio.

Darren Solomon, a longtime Richmond Hill resident and seasoned leader in entertainment and media, assumed the new role at Richmond Hill Public Library on July 6.

The new CEO was chosen after an extensive search of leaders in various industries, according to the library’s press release on June 25.

The library board appointed Solomon to the position seven months after Procter Maio retired in November from her role of seven years as the top executive of the local library.

Richmond Hill library board addresses impact of budget constraints
The appointment is the newest addition to a slew of changes to the library services and the library board that started with disputes over budgets last spring and led to the resignation of the former board chair David Bishop last November.

Then commissioner of corporate and financial services of Richmond Hill Mary-Anne Dempster -- now city manager -- initially took over as interim CEO of the library before the board appointed Yunmi Hwang to the role of interim CEO when Mary-Anne was appointed to interim city manager in February.

“Like many other industries, libraries have been disrupted and have opportunities to adapt and grow in the changing landscape of our world,” Solomon said in the press release. “I’m excited to join the Richmond Hill Public Library team to reimagine the possibilities of what the library can mean for our community in the future.”

Solomon has played a variety of leadership roles while working with Cineplex, one of Canada’s leading entertainment and media companies, for 13 years.

Most recently he was the senior vice president for Growth and Experience Strategies with Cineplex Digital Media after working as the vice president for marketing with Cineplex for several years.

Before joining the entertainment company, Solomon had worked with Bell Media and CBC News.

Solomon’s dedication to customer-driven innovation and his experience with positioning, branding and scaling business will support the library’s vision of delivering continued growth and value to the community, the press release says.

“As our library pivots to the needs of our growing community, I’m confident that Darren’s expertise will provide us with strategic leadership, innovative practices, and modern efficiencies that will continue to keep libraries relevant.” Greg Beros, chair of Richmond Hill Public Library Board, said.

The board worked closely with Odgers Berndtson, an executive search and recruitment firm, to fill the role of the CEO, according to Annesha Hutchinson, spokesperson for the library.

The city's human resources department, which manages human resources activities for the library, was also involved in the process, she said.

“We are unable to disclose the number of persons who applied for this position, but can state that many applicants were interviewed on a national level,” the spokesperson said.

Solomon is expected to work closely with the City of Richmond Hill and the library board, staff and the community to form the library’s new strategic plan, while also guiding the library through Ontario’s framework for reopening the province, according to the press release.

The new CEO said he looked forward to engaging with residents, supporting the staff and building on the library services.