In an announcement issued on Monday morning (June 17), Corus said current president and CEO Doug Murphy (pictured, left) “has made the decision to take an early retirement after over 30 years in broadcasting and media.” The company has appointed Troy Reeb (pictured, centre), previously EVP of networks and content, and CFO John Gossling (pictured, right) as co-CEOs, effective immediately.

The change at the top follows the news earlier this month that the Canadian licensing rights of various Warner Bros. Discovery cable nets including Food Network, HGTV, and Magnolia Network, among others would be moving from Corus to Rogers Media.

In reference to the situation, Murphy issued a strongly worded statement at the time: “This is an unfortunate example of inequitable structural relationships in the Canadian media and telecom industries, particularly affecting independent broadcasters like Corus. It highlights the urgent need for regulatory reform, including to rules affecting how market-dominant players interact with suppliers and competitors.

“Corus intends to explore all potential remedies,” he added. “We look forward to adapting and advancing our strategies while we pursue new opportunities through our other content suppliers.” That responsibility, however, will now fall to the new CEOs.

Murphy first joined Corus in 2003 as executive vice president of business development, and progressed through a number of senior positions before being appointed president and chief executive officer in 2015.

“Doug’s passion for bringing content to Canadians, including fair and balanced news, is renowned,” said Corus Entertainment executive chair Heather Shaw in a statement. “On behalf of the Board, I thank Doug for his many years of commitment and leadership at Corus and wish him well on his new chapter.

“Succession planning is an integral part of our operations,” she added, regarding the appointments of Reeb  and Gossling . “Troy and John are seasoned senior broadcast and media executives who each have exceptional experience, a strategic mindset and deep understanding of the industry. The Board and I are extremely confident in their ability to guide Corus through the evolving regulatory and competitive landscape, and make smart, strategic choices that best position the company for the future.”

This article first appeared in Realscreen.

Images courtesy of Corus Entertainment.