TORONTO – Bell Media has parted ways with four senior executives.
Phil King, Adam Ashton, Charles Benoit and Chris Gordon are no longer with the company, it was announced Monday by division president Mary Ann Turcke, who took over the top job in May and has been working hard to try and remake Bell Media into a company that is ready for the digital present, and future.
King was head of CTV Sports and Entertainment programming and had been with the company (through its Bell Globemedia, CTV Globemedia, and Netstar days) for 26 years in various positions.
Chris Gordon was president of Bell Media Radio and local TV and had been with the company (dating back to when the radio division was CHUM Radio) for 17 years.
Charles Benoit was president of television and radio, Quebec, and had held various positions over his 35 year career, mostly with Astral Media. He had been Bell’s chief Quebec executive since the company’s 2012 purchase of Astral.
Adam Ashton was senior vice president of TV and business operations and has spent 17 years with the company, dating back to Netstar. He was also president of the broadcast consortium during the London Olympics.
While it is not known yet who will replace these four, employees have been told there will be a new overall structure put in place and announced Tuesday morning.
Cartt.ca has learned from sources that Universal Music Canada president Randy Lennox has been hired by Bell Media, which will be made official tomorrow. We don’t know what his position will be at this point.
“In a time of unprecedented competitive intensity and ongoing technological and regulatory change, we are restructuring our organization to ensure Bell Media is ready to maximize every opportunity to expand our leadership with viewers and listeners across the country,” Bell Media president Mary Ann Turcke said in a memo Monday.
Besides the departures, the company’s realignment will result in new roles and expanded responsibilities for others, said the memo.
“I look forward to providing you with another update detailing our organizational plans, new senior leadership roles and reporting structures,” reads Turcke’s memo.
“With a focus on competitiveness, innovation and operational efficiency, we will ensure our ongoing leadership with viewers and listeners in both official languages, prevailing in a broadcasting landscape that is being re-made by the day.
“Organizational change is never easy, especially in a fast-moving industry like ours, but I am committed to keeping you up to date throughout the process and ensuring every decision supports our team’s success and our company’s growth into the future.”
More to come.
