Bruce Cowie has retired from his post as ctv executive vice-president and chief operating officer.

The step down caps a four-decade career in broadcasting that included being a past joint chairman of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, a founding chairman of Can-Pro and being named Broadcaster of the Year in 1981 by his peers.

ctv president and ceo Ivan Fecan remarked in a note to staff that ‘given the NetStar situation is in its very early stages, we will not immediately fill the position of coo.

‘I will become more directly involved in the business and some of the senior team members will take on additional responsibilities during the interim,’ said Fecan.

Cowie will remain with ctv on a part-time basis as an advisor to Fecan and delegate on various special projects.

In other ctv staff moves, Rita Fabian has been promoted to the position of senior vp sales and marketing, taking over from Gary Greenway who ankled from the slot a couple of months ago.

Fabian’s appointment comes as part of a shakeup in the ctv sales and marketing department that will see Dave Ballingall become the new vp, customer marketing. George Gonzo has been named vp, local and regional sales, and Andrew Saunders is the new vp, local and regional business development. Brian McCluskey has been named vp, revenue development, and Marg Buie has added the responsibilities of specialty strategist to her director of comedy role. A new vp, national sales and manager of revenue reporting have yet to surface.

Fabian will report directly to Fecan.