Gail Asper and David Asper have stepped down from the board of directors at Canwest, pink-slipping themselves from all ‘director and officer positions’ at the troubled company founded by their father, Izzy Asper.

Lisa Pankratz, an accountant and director since 2005, has also left the board.

The trio plan to pursue other business and charitable projects and left the company, in part, to assist in Canwest’s efforts to reduce the size of its board, the company said Wednesday.

The positions will not be refilled. Canwest is currently under creditor protection and undergoing restructuring that includes the sell-off of its newspaper division.

Leonard Asper remains in place as president, CEO and a director. The remaining directors are Derek Burney, David Drybrough, David Kerr and Margot Micallef.