Maria Armstrong is CEO and Executive Producer at Big Coat Media, formerly known as Big Coat Productions. In 2016, with Big Coat’s rapid growth in digital content, the company was rebranded and renamed Big Coat Media. Prior to Big Coat, Maria was Director of Original Productions for W Network, where she established a strong independent production department and was responsible for all original productions for the network.

Maria has over 30 years of extensive experience in the television and film industry. Starting her career in casting, Maria quickly established herself as one of Canada’s foremost casting directors. At the CBC, Maria was Head of Talent and Executive Director of Talent Relations, in charge of casting all CBC productions and talent development. In 1996 she left the CBC to launch Armstrong Productions, which become one of the country’s leading independent production companies, with seven highly rated television series airing on a variety of Canadian networks.

At Big Coat, Maria is currently executive producing the critically acclaimed, Gemini Award-nominated series Love It or List It on HGTV Canada and HGTV (US), currently in production of its eighth season. Maria is also Executive Producer of Love it or List it Vacation Homes, which recently aired on W Network and received two 2017 Canadian Screen Award nominations, as well as Love It or List It Vancouver, currently in production of its fifth season for HGTV Canada.