Bell Media replaces CTV News news boss Michael Melling, who was at the heart of the turmoil after the sudden and unexpected departure of Lisa LaFlamme as anchor of the late-night newscast.
Several months after Mr. Melling took a leave of absence from CTV’s news department, a Bell Media statement confirmed Monday that his position will now be filled permanently by Richard Gray, who was vice president of the interim information.
Bell Media, CTV’s parent company, says Mr Melling has been reassigned to the position of vice president of shared services. A Bell Media representative declined to clarify what this new role would entail.
The decision follows an independent third-party review of CTV’s National Newsroom — a review sparked by the ousting of Lisa LaFlamme as anchor of the flagship late-night newscast.
Mme LaFlamme said at the time that she was “completely taken aback,” which she announced in a video posted to social media in August. Bell Media’s move also rocked CTV’s newsroom and raised concerns about corporate culture.
The choice also sparked a debate over whether the respected 58-year-old news anchor was ousted because of her age, amid sexism.
Bell Media has endured weeks of controversy, as Mr Melling took the full brunt of criticism over the decision.
CTV’s parent company eventually released a statement saying it “regrets” the manner in which the release of Mme LaFlamme had been managed because she “may have left viewers with the wrong impression” that her storied career was not valued at Bell Media.
To see in video