Former head of Bell Media takes position with Sprint

Kevin Crull, the former president of Bell Media who quit after apologizing for trying to influence the editorial decisions of CTV journalists, has a new job at Sprint.

The U.S. telecommunications company says Crull will become its chief marketing officer at the end of May.

In that job, Crull will be responsible for Sprint’s advertising and marketing and all social media efforts.

Sprint’s president and CEO, Marcelo Claure, said in a statement that Crull’s experience at Bell Media will help the American telecom company provide unique content to its wireless customers.

Until his departure on April 9, Crull had been head of one of Canada’s biggest media operations, which includes the CTV television network, a variety of specialty television channels and a radio network.

He had been criticized publicly for attempting to limit the amount of air time that CTV News gave to the head of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which regulates Bell Media and its parent BCE Inc.

After the CRTC in March directed TV providers to offer cheaper cable and satellite packages, Crull contacted senior CTV news staff and ordered them to exclude the CRTC chairman from coverage.

Crull publicly apologized after the chair, Jean-Pierre Blais, issued a statement calling reports of interference “disturbing.”

Bell Media owner BCE Inc. later said that it has enhanced protections on the recommendation of an independent report commissioned by directors. The company said the report is part of an internal process and will not be made public.

BCE chief George Cope said the upshot is that the CTV News head will have expanded authority, autonomy and flexibility to shield journalists from corporate meddling. With a file from Star staff