CBC announced the sudden and immediate departure of English Services chief Richard Stursberg Friday afternoon.
CBC president Hubert Lacroix told employees the news Friday but gave no reason for the change. Stursberg oversaw a massive overhaul at the public broadcaster during his six-year tenure.
“When Richard was appointed executive vice-president of CBC Television six years ago, he brought with him a revolution that shook the foundation of the organization and eventually of the whole of our English services,” Lacroix said in the statement.
“He challenged every premise, attacked conventional wisdom, and uprooted whole parts of the internal culture. Six years later, the institution is better off than it was. I want to acknowledge his success in turning CBC Television around and thank him for his contribution.”
The network said that Kirstine Stewart, who is general manager of CBC Television, will fill in on an interim basis.
Stursberg was at the helm during several major changes to the cash-strapped public broadcaster, including massive staff and programming cuts to cope with a $85-million shortfall for the English-language service.
The shortfall led to layoffs of up to 180 employees in 2009.
He also oversaw last year’s rebranding of CBC Newsworld to CBC News Network, which included a revamped schedule, new onscreen graphics and new personalities.
Previously, Stursberg served as executive director of Telefilm Canada. He was also president and CEO of Canadian Satellite Communications and Star Choice.
In the 1980s, he worked in the federal government’s department of communications.
The internal memo said CBC would begin a search to replace Stursberg immediately.
Stursberg could not immediately be reached for comment.
