Janet Yale surprised her Canadian Cable Television Association colleagues and many industry watchers by her sudden resignation as CCTA president and CEO in late September.

‘In Ottawa it’s hard to keep a secret, and I had a big one!’ laughs Yale.

Yale says the circumstances of her leaving were very cut and dry: an opportunity came up for her with Telus. She now fills Telus’ newly created position of executive VP, government and regulatory affairs, but admits to being sad to leave her staff at the CCTA.

‘It was too good to pass up,’ she says. ‘It’s a great opportunity with a company I think is going places.’

CCTA chairman Dean MacDonald will lead a blue-ribbon search committee along with Ted Rogers (Rogers Communications), Louis Audet (Cogeco) and Jim Shaw (Shaw Communications) to find a replacement for Yale. In the meantime, the CCTA’s senior VP, regulatory and external affairs, Michael Hennessy, has taken on Yale’s former responsibilities under the title acting president.

Although the CCTA declined to comment on Yale’s departure, in a statement MacDonald says, ‘Through her leadership, Janet has left behind one of the strongest industry associations in Ottawa and a professional team that will position the cable industry well for success in the future.’