VP Heather Conway leaves the CBC
Heather Conway is leaving after five years in charge of CBC’s English-language services.
The woman in charge of CBC’s English-language TV, radio and online services is leaving the public broadcaster. Heather Conway says she will “pursue other opportunities” after five years overseeing CBC-TV, CBC News Network, CBC Radio One and Two, and CBC.ca.
Conway was appointed executive vice-president of CBC’s English services in 2013 and went on to oversee its shift to a “digital-first” strategy.
Her tenure included the dramatic fall of CBC Radio star Jian Ghomeshi, and a damning 2015 report into the CBC’s handling of the Ghomeshi case that castigated management for failing to investigate reports of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace.
Conway acknowledged lawyer Janice Rubin’s findings but insisted that CBC management was committed to taking seriously issues of workplace harassment.
CBC says Conway will remain in her role until Dec. 7.
Conway, a former marketing executive whose past stints included the Art Gallery of Ontario and TD Bank Financial Group, had no programming experience when she joined a broadcaster grappling with poor TV ratings, a softened advertising market and stiff competition from rival private networks.
Cuts to staff and the budget followed, including an especially heavy blow in 2014 when the broadcaster cut 657 jobs and slashed $130 million from its 2014-15 budget while gutting CBC Sports and reducing local news coverage.