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Richard Stursberg leaves CBC


Richard Stursberg, head of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's English services, is leaving the CBC after six years in the position.

Kirstine Stewart, currently the general manager of CBC Television, will take over his executive vice-president of English services position on an interim basis. Stursberg's departure was announced by CBC president Hubert T. Lacroix though provided no reason.

"When Richard was appointed executive vice-president of CBC Television six years ago, he brought with him a revolution that shook the foundation of the organization and eventually of the whole of our English services," Lacroix said in his statement.

"He challenged every premise, attacked conventional wisdom and uprooted whole parts of the internal culture. Six years later, the institution is better off than it was. I want to acknowledge his success in turning CBC Television around and thank him for his contribution."

Stursberg was appointed executive vice-president of CBC Television during the eight-week lockout of CBC employees in the fall of 2005. In his most recent position, he oversaw a downsizing of the CBC workforce in 2009 at a time when the public broadcaster faced a $171-million shortfall.

Under his leadership, the CBC integrated its English-language services - radio, TV and internet, in an attempt, he said, to make content more broadly available across more platforms. He also fought for more flexible and generous financial terms for the public broadcaster from the federal government.

Bill Chambers, CBC vice-president of communications, said that the CBC is a very different corporation than it was five years ago, largely because of Stursberg.

Chambers referred the change as "not about where we are" but "all about the future and the way we are going forward." He also referred to Lacroix's statement that said CBC and Radio-Canada are developing a new strategic plan over the next five years.

 


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