Jay Switzer, who helped fashion the flagship Citytv station in Toronto as the Little Station That Could, is to step down as president and CEO of parent CHUM after CTVglobemedia takes over in July.

Switzer, who joined Citytv in 1982 and rose through its programming ranks during 24 years with CHUM, on Friday told Playback Daily that he will remain tight-lipped until CGM gets the keys to CHUM’s headquarters on Toronto’s Queen Street West in two weeks.

The CRTC in early June greenlit CGM’s $1.4 billion takeover of CHUM, stipulating that its five Citytv stations be sold off, and paving the way for Switzer’s departure.

The five Citytv stations are to be bought by Rogers Media for $375 million.

In an internal memo to CHUM employees on Thursday, Switzer said he was sad to be leaving, but happy because the radio and TV broadcaster is beginning a new chapter.

During his 24 years at CHUM, Switzer competed against rival networks with deeper pockets and greater clout. He became president and CEO in late 2002, and, choosing his battles, acquired rival Craig Media in 2004 to vault CHUM to near-national coverage with 33 radio stations, 21 specialty channels, the A-Channels and the Citytv-branded stations.