OTTAWA – Facing a slashed federal budget and an NHL lockout that could freeze out Hockey Night in Canada, Hubert Lacroix learned today he will continue on as head of CBC/Radio-Canada for another five years as the government reappointed him president and CEO for a second term. But it doesn’t get any easier for Lacroix as the CBC faces its first CRTC license renewal hearing in 13 years on November 19.
Cartt.ca had heard the rumours of his reappointment last month but the executives we had talked with were sure M Lacroix would be renewed for just a single year, not a full five-year term. The news of his renewal also comes on the final day which the CRTC is accepting submissions by interveners into the CBC license renewal hearing, which Lacroix will steer the Corp through next month.
“Despite economic downturns and industry shake-ups, we are well on the way to achieving the goals set out in our strategy. Planning for the next five years starts today,” said Lacroix in a news release.
This past April Lacroix announced the CBC would eliminate 650 jobs over the next three years in response to its federal budget being slashed by $115 million over the same time period.
“In 2010, CBC/Radio-Canada started the process of building the public broadcaster of the future. We call the first phase Strategy 2015: Everyone, Every way. I see my reappointment as an endorsement of our strategic direction, which calls for the public broadcaster to become more distinctly Canadian in its national programming, more present in all regions of the country and to act as a catalyst for the digital transformation of the media landscape,” said Lacroix.
Lacroix was first appointed as President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada on January 1, 2008, for a five-year term. Prior to his appointment, Lacroix practiced law for 30 years with three of Montréal's most prominent firms. He acquired strong credentials in the radio broadcasting and publishing industries through his involvement with Telemedia and other companies. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from McGill University, and has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1977.
