WINNIPEG – It’s out with the new, in with the old at CanWest Global Communications Corp.
Today, the company “announced the departure of Richard Camilleri as president, CanWest MediaWorks,” says a short CanWest release this evening.
Succeeding Camilleri will be long-time CanWest executive Peter Viner (right).
CanWest MediaWorks comprises CanWest’s Canadian broadcasting, newspaper and online operations.
Camilleri (left) was brought in with much fanfare three years ago as the out-of-the-box guy who would wring the revenue from of CanWest’s various media assets (broadcast, specialty service, interactive, print and radio) through multi-platform products and cross-promotion.
Prior to joining CanWest, Camilleri was chairman and CEO of Arius3D Inc., a Canadian 3D digital imaging company and before that he was president, Sony Music Entertainment Canada from 1993 to 2000. He had no prior TV or print experience.
His tenure was marked by structural changes, management upheaval (long-time executives such as Don Babick, Gerry Noble, Laura Mawhinney and Jack Tomik, for example, all left or were let go during Camilleri’s time leading the company), numerous publisher and editorial staff changes at The National Post and some of the company’s other papers, and declining television ratings which led to a number of new executives being hired last year to right the ship under the new MediaWorks banner.
Viner has been with CanWest for 25 years in a number of senior executive roles. A former television sales executive, he went from managing Vancouver television station CKVU-TV in 1992 to run the TEN Television Network in Australia.
In his five years as CEO of TEN, he turned that network into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, says the CanWest press release. On his return to Canada in 1997, he was appointed president and CEO of CanWest Global, a post he held until Leonard Asper took the helm of the company. Since that time, Viner has served as publisher of the National Post, and more recently has been involved as a strategic advisor in a number of the company’s corporate development initiatives.
"We wish to thank Mr. Camilleri for his contributions over his three year tenure with the company, and wish him well in his future endeavours," said Leonard Asper, CanWest’s president and CEO.
Asper was effusive in his praise of Viner. "I can think of no CanWest executive better suited to meet the challenges that we face and make the best of our opportunities than Peter Viner," he said. "During Peter’s long career with the company, he has successfully run media operations in Canada and internationally. The success that the TEN Television Network in Australia enjoys today is in large part due to Peter’s management of that network from our acquiring it in 1992 until his return to Canada in 1997.
“Peter’s vast and intimate knowledge of the company will serve us well as we continue to rebuild Global Television and transform our newspaper business into a multi-media publishing powerhouse. He will also be a great contributor to our ongoing strategic planning process," said Asper.
"I do want to emphasize that this change in leadership in no way alters our Canadian multi-media strategy or diminishes our corporate commitment to our Canadian media operations."
"I am very much looking forward to my new role," stated Mr. Viner in the press release. "I intend to focus strongly on improving the financial performance of our core Canadian businesses so we can create tangible shareholder value.”
“There has been speculation recently of our interest in spinning out some or all of our Canadian media operations into an income trust structure. A possible income trust remains under active consideration, however, this change in Canadian leadership could affect the timing of any such decision. We remain focused upon continuing to strengthen our balance sheet and create value for our shareholders," added Mr. Asper.
– Greg O’Brien
