QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – Alyson Townsend is no longer CEO of the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance.
The board of directors of the alliance of independent network operators made the announcement to staff on Friday and to the rest of the industry on Monday. Many who communicated with Cartt.ca Monday afternoon were surprised to hear Townsend and the CCSA had parted ways.
She had been CEO since 2001 and joined the organization in 1994 when it was founded to do what it still does today: combine the efforts and numbers of multiple independent operators across the country into one cohesive voice in order to bring down costs with bulk buying and to present a consistent voice to politicians and regulators in Ottawa for independent cable companies (now cable, telecom and internet service providers).
While no one would speak for the record what exactly happened, it appears that Townsend and the CCSA’s board of directors could not come to agreement on a new employment contract.
“We appreciate the significant contributions Alyson has made in making the CCSA the successful organization that it is today,” said CCSA board chair Dave Baxter, president and CEO of Westman Communications, Brandon, Man., when reached by phone.
“CCSA is an important voice for independent communications companies… and she has had an important role for us.”
“We wish Alyson the very best,” he added.
The CCSA will now undertake a search for a new leader and in the interim, chief financial officer Jenny Bosien will assume the responsibilities of the president and CEO in an acting role.
