CTVgm will lose two execs on Friday when EVP Ed Robinson and VP of docs Bob Culbert head for the door. Robinson is retiring from his post atop the company’s Space and Comedy outlets, while, according to a CTV spokesperson, Culbert’s time has come to an end along with the cash in the BCE benefits fund.

Network boss Susanne Boyce announced Robinson’s departure on Wednesday in an internal memo, applauding his 13 years at CTVgm, perhaps most notable for his stint atop The Comedy Network. Robinson came over from CBC to launch the cable channel in 1997 and together with right-hand man Brent Haynes is credited for much of its success. Haynes left to work at MTV in New York last year.

Robinson ‘oversaw many successful programs, too numerous to mention,’ said Boyce. He was later placed atop Space, serving as president and GM for both channels.

His position — since 2007 he has also been EVP of programming — will not be refilled. Instead, Fraser Robinson and Michelle Daly, directors of content for Space and Comedy, respectively, will report to Isme Bennie, who is VP and GM at Bravo.

‘I have no immediate plans except to take some time to stop and smell the roses,’ said Robinson, speaking to Playback Daily. ‘There are always a lot of reasons [for leaving], but for me the timing just feels right,’ he added, noting that his wife retired recently. ‘I need some time to step away and recharge.’

Spokesperson Scott Henderson conceded that Robinson’s departure will save the network some money, but put down speculation that the departure was a de facto layoff.

Further, despite Culbert’s exit, Henderson insists it’s still ‘business as usual’ at CTV with regard to documentaries — pointing to the doc teams under its news, arts, factual and music departments.