Canwest Global is putting its former CEO back to work, placing Peter Viner atop its broadcasting division as it continues to search for a permanent successor to Kathy Dore.

Viner will take over as interim president of broadcasting from Dore, who is leaving when her contract ends next month. He retired from Canwest last summer at age 61, though he has continued to serve as an advisor.

His return follows cuts to 560 jobs at Canwest’s TV and publishing divisions, announced last week ahead of a fourth-quarter loss of $1 billion. A company spokesperson downplayed Viner’s role in fixing those woes, though meeting the ‘structural challenges’ of conventional TV will be among his top priorities.

‘He’s hands-on day-to-day management of the organization,’ said the spokesperson, ‘so the challenges of the business become his challenges.’ Viner will also take part in the upcoming licence renewals.

Viner will be responsible for Canwest’s conventional television operations across Canada as well as its 24 specialty channels.