Jagoda Pike
Encyclopedia
Jagoda Pike is a former publisher of the Toronto Star
and former president of Star Media Group
. She is also an alumna of Trinity College
in the University of Toronto
and the Osgoode Hall Law School
. Effective October 4, 2008, Ms. Pike stepped down as publisher of the Toronto Star and assumed the role of heading Ontario's bid for the 2015 Pan American Games.
Jagoda Pike joined Torstar Corporation in 1986. During her tenure, Ms. Pike has held a broadly diverse portfolio of key leadership positions, affording her a unique perspective on all aspects of Torstar’s newspaper publishing operations.
Ms. Pike’s appointment as Publisher of the Toronto Star - the first woman to hold that position at Canada’s largest daily newspaper - represents a homecoming. She began her career at Torstar in the corporate legal department, but joined the Toronto Star soon after. Over the next decade, Ms. Pike was responsible for such strategic roles as industrial relations, human resources and operations. In particular, she held the positions of Executive Director of Labour and Employee Relations and Vice-President, Operations and Human Resources. In 1999, Ms Pike was named Executive Vice-President, Torstar Daily Newspaper Group. In 2000, she was promoted to the position of General Manager of the Toronto Star.
In 2001, Ms. Pike was named Publisher of The Hamilton Spectator and Senior Vice-President, Regional Daily Newspapers, Torstar Media Group. In addition to her role as Publisher of The Spectator, Ms. Pike was subsequently appointed President of the newly formed CityMedia Group which encompassed three daily newspapers – The Hamilton Spectator, The Record of Waterloo Region and the Guelph Mercury – as well as numerous community newspapers, published under the Brabant and Fairway mastheads, three magazines, and commercial printing operations.
Her tenure as Publisher of The Hamilton Spectator was marked by a culture of innovation and journalistic excellence. During this period, The Spectator received more journalistic honours than at anytime in a generation, including:
Also during her tenure, The Spectator earned an international reputation as a leader in innovation and cultural change. In 2005, The Spectator was designated a ‘Learning Newsroom’ by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the American Press Institute – the only Canadian newspaper to receive such a designation.
Ms. Pike left CityMedia in February 2006 when she was appointed Executive Vice-President, Newspapers, Torstar a role that gave her strategic responsibility for all Torstar newspapers.
Ms. Pike’s community and volunteer activity has included:
In 2004, Ms. Pike was honoured for her many volunteer efforts in Hamilton when she received the Safe Communities’ Spirit of the Community Award.
Ms Pike was educated at the University of Toronto, where she studied economics and, later, at Osgoode Hall Law School, from which she received a Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1984. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1986.
A native of Croatia, Ms. Pike’s family immigrated to Canada when she was a child. She still has extended family in Croatia, and regularly visits Europe. Ms. Pike has lived all of her adult life in the GTA. She is married, and has two children.
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
and former president of Star Media Group
Star Media Group
Star Media Group is a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation.Star Media Group assets includes:*Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper*Torstar Syndication Services*Fantasy Sports...
. She is also an alumna of Trinity College
University of Trinity College
The University of Trinity College, informally referred to as Trin, is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1851 by Bishop John Strachan. Trinity was intended by Strachan as a college of strong Anglican alignment, after the University of Toronto severed its ties with the Church of...
in the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and the Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
. Effective October 4, 2008, Ms. Pike stepped down as publisher of the Toronto Star and assumed the role of heading Ontario's bid for the 2015 Pan American Games.
Jagoda Pike joined Torstar Corporation in 1986. During her tenure, Ms. Pike has held a broadly diverse portfolio of key leadership positions, affording her a unique perspective on all aspects of Torstar’s newspaper publishing operations.
Ms. Pike’s appointment as Publisher of the Toronto Star - the first woman to hold that position at Canada’s largest daily newspaper - represents a homecoming. She began her career at Torstar in the corporate legal department, but joined the Toronto Star soon after. Over the next decade, Ms. Pike was responsible for such strategic roles as industrial relations, human resources and operations. In particular, she held the positions of Executive Director of Labour and Employee Relations and Vice-President, Operations and Human Resources. In 1999, Ms Pike was named Executive Vice-President, Torstar Daily Newspaper Group. In 2000, she was promoted to the position of General Manager of the Toronto Star.
In 2001, Ms. Pike was named Publisher of The Hamilton Spectator and Senior Vice-President, Regional Daily Newspapers, Torstar Media Group. In addition to her role as Publisher of The Spectator, Ms. Pike was subsequently appointed President of the newly formed CityMedia Group which encompassed three daily newspapers – The Hamilton Spectator, The Record of Waterloo Region and the Guelph Mercury – as well as numerous community newspapers, published under the Brabant and Fairway mastheads, three magazines, and commercial printing operations.
Her tenure as Publisher of The Hamilton Spectator was marked by a culture of innovation and journalistic excellence. During this period, The Spectator received more journalistic honours than at anytime in a generation, including:
- The Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Award of Excellence (2005);
- Eight National Newspaper Award nominations, and three National Newspaper Awards, including two consecutive years when the newspaper received the industry’s top investigative reporting award (2005 & 2004).
Also during her tenure, The Spectator earned an international reputation as a leader in innovation and cultural change. In 2005, The Spectator was designated a ‘Learning Newsroom’ by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the American Press Institute – the only Canadian newspaper to receive such a designation.
Ms. Pike left CityMedia in February 2006 when she was appointed Executive Vice-President, Newspapers, Torstar a role that gave her strategic responsibility for all Torstar newspapers.
Ms. Pike’s community and volunteer activity has included:
- Chair of the Canadian Newspaper Association
- Director of Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
- Trustee of Brock University
- Member of McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business Dean’s Advisory Committee
- Chair and President of the Hamilton 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games Bids
In 2004, Ms. Pike was honoured for her many volunteer efforts in Hamilton when she received the Safe Communities’ Spirit of the Community Award.
Ms Pike was educated at the University of Toronto, where she studied economics and, later, at Osgoode Hall Law School, from which she received a Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1984. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1986.
A native of Croatia, Ms. Pike’s family immigrated to Canada when she was a child. She still has extended family in Croatia, and regularly visits Europe. Ms. Pike has lived all of her adult life in the GTA. She is married, and has two children.