TIFF appoints Andréa Grau as Vice President, Public Relations and Corporate Affairs

Grau will lead TIFF’s in-house agency, Dept. 30, comprised of the communications, marketing, digital, creative and editorial teams.

She will be a part of TIFF senior management, providing leadership and guidance for the organization.

Reporting to Michèle Maheux, Executive Director and COO, Grau is responsible for upholding and expanding the integrity of the TIFF brand internationally and at home, and developing and executing the PR strategy as the organization enters a new strategic plan and CEO transition

“Andréa has been a part of this organization in some capacity for the past 23 years,” Handling said.

“She first entered as an intern fresh out of university, later returned to run the Communications department, and now comes back in a much larger leadership role to help us navigate the changing PR landscape. The industry and media relationships that she has developed over the years are impeccable. On behalf of the Senior Management team, we are delighted to have her back.”

Grau, who is fluent in English, French and Spanish, has almost 25 years of experience working in arts and culture, and communications.

She will retain ownership of Touchwood PR, a boutique publicity and promotions agency she founded in 2009.

Her clients have included Cineplex, Fan Expo Canada, Pathé International, eOne, Unifrance Films, Telefilm Canada, the Academy of Canadian Film and Television, Reel Asian Film Festival, CMPA’s Prime Time in Ottawa, Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, and several high-profile personal clients.

Prior to Touchwood PR, Grau ran the TIFF Communications department for eight years. In this role she successfully developed and executed media strategies to position TIFF as a leader in the industry.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)