Dennis Skulsky’s resignation as president and CEO of Canwest’s print and online publishing arm hit the news Friday morning. Here is the letter he circulated to Canwest staffers the same day:
Today I formally announced that I will be leaving my current position as President and CEO of Canwest Publishing effective April 30th.
This was a very personal decision and one that I made with my closest advisors -- my family. Some of you may know we had a serious health scare in our family in the past year. We also had the greatest joy that you could possibly imagine -- the birth of our first grandchild. My dear wife, our daughters and son-in-law, our precious new granddaughter and my elderly parents, all of whom live out West, are what I treasure most in my life and this decision was driven primarily so that I could spend more time with them. It will also allow me to pursue other opportunities closer to home.
Media and publishing have been my career and passion for all of my adult life. But my proudest moments come from my family, my faith and being able to give back to my community.
I am tremendously proud of the people across this company and I have ultimate confidence in the leadership team. The decision I have made is not a signal of any change of strategic direction for the publishing group. I will be fully engaged in our operations and the financial restructuring process until the end of April. After that, I will continue to provide advice to the special committee and senior management team until the end of August.
Throughout the restructuring process, our operations have continued to move forward delivering news and information to engaged readers across our platforms, selling innovative marketing opportunities to advertisers and working hard to transform our operations and find ways to embrace the changes that we have faced in the economy and the industry. That work must continue, and I know this team is dedicated to working through the restructuring process and strengthening the business.
In the coming weeks, we’ll have more information about the transition but it shouldn’t affect the work you do every day and the objectives, targets and initiatives that we have set for the publishing group’s operations and restructuring.
It has been an absolute privilege to lead this organization. I have always felt it a great honour to serve the communities that we do. You are part of a team of bright, creative, dedicated and resilient people who engage readers and audiences and deliver results to advertisers and marketers. It’s something that I believe we do better than anyone.
I continue to be inspired by the work done every day across this organization and although I will be leaving officially, I will continue to be your biggest fan and cheering from the sidelines.
Dennis
Skulsky is reported to be about to take over running the B.C. Lions CFL football team based in Vancouver. During the four years that he was a top executive at Canwest, the value of the stock plummeted from $15 per share to six cents before trading was halted and Canada’s biggest print, online and broadcast media company filed for bankruptcy protection.
Skulsky’s superior during those years, Leonard Asper, resigned as president and CEO of Canwest last week after banks owning the company’s billions in debt took over control and prepared to sell off assets. Asper is part of a team bidding to regain control of Canwest’s newspaper holdings.
David Beers is editor of The Tyee.
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SharingIsGood
1 year ago
Newspapers to employees
"Asper is part of a team bidding to regain control of Canwest’s newspaper holdings."
There ought to be something illegal about the Aspers being allowed to regain any part of control of CanWest newspapers.
A deal should be struck whereby the newspapers are turned over to the local employees to own. Clear out the entire Board of Directors and hire executives/publishers/editors whose pay is based upon their ability to keep employees, report all of the "real" news in non-biased ways, sell newspapers and return some profits to the new employee-owners - the people actually doing the work.
IranianDude
1 year ago
Haven't we had enough
of these Asper "family"? haven't they wreaked enough havoc in modern day Canadian journalism already?
Ramona777
1 year ago
Iranian Dude
It can get worse. Check out who's bidding on Canwest's publishing arm.
If it goes from red to black, watch out.
realisticman
1 year ago
Opportunity Knocks
Sharing: "A deal should be struck whereby the newspapers are turned over to the local employees to own."
The employees are free to make an offer.
IranianDude
1 year ago
Canwest model is outdated anyway
I'll stick with Tyee and suggest you all to support them through donations, etc.
Canwest et al. can go Cheney themselves.
DJT
1 year ago
Translation
Translation of Skulsky's letter:
"This is one rat that's gettin' off this sinkin' ship".
Tony Martinson
1 year ago
The Lions are bound to be successful...
This is a brilliant move. All the Lions need to do is merge with the Calgary Stampeders (eliminating that pesky need to compete) and team up against the rest of the teams in the league. They will do this by playing only on the right side of the field and forever attacking the left.
I mean, hey, it worked for Skulsky at PacPress, didn't it?
Raedwulf
1 year ago
Harper-Asper connection
I have always been fascinated with the Harper-Asper connection; Harper's "Israel can do no wrong" lock-step with the Asper's Canwest Global media rules, and what the Canwest bankruptcy will mean. The recent very first very mild Harper criticism of Israel; was it because his American advisors allowed it or is he understanding how counter productive of Canada's standing in the world it is. Or is it because the bankruptcy of Canwest Global may isolate Harper's radical reverse racism in dealing with Israel.
Raedwulf
1 year ago
Harper-Asper connection
I forgot to mention the amusing sudden use by CBC of, almost exclusively, National Post commentators for their political programs, and Cross Country Checkup. Is that Harper using his influence to reward his good Conservative media lapdogs, when there are no more Senate seats available?
G West
1 year ago
Where do rubes like Skulsky
Where do rubes like Skulsky get the idea anyone wants to hear anything about their families?
These bullshit artists couldn't care less about the families of the employees they've sacked; the families who can't afford to live decently in this city and this province; ther retired people who eat cat food from time to time to make their budgets stretch.
It is the height of arrogance that someone like Skulsky should make these kinds of remarks when they've been in charge during the destruction of the very idea that news should be reported properly and responsibly intead of spun.
The CFL is already a joke - Skulsky and the joint ownership of the Lions/Argonauts should just about kill it.
zalm
1 year ago
I think there's been a mis-print
I think this is what Skulsky meant to say:
"Throughout the destructuring process, our operatives have continued to move backward selling innovative marketing opportunities to tired readers across our platforms, delivering news and information about our readers to our advertisers, and finding ways to change the embrace that industry has over us so it doesn't hurt so much when they squeeze us. That process must continue and I know this business is dedicated to restructuring to continue working with the smallest possible team and still deliver profits to shareholders."
You think maybe he's not over his unnamed illness yet?