The Canadian-born publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times has resigned his post to become the news chief at the CBC, the public broadcaster announced Wednesday.

Toronto-born media executive John Cruickshank will join CBC News in the newly created position of publisher.
(Rich Hein/Associated Press)

John Cruickshank, also the chief operating officer of the Sun-Times Media Group's Chicago portfolio, has accepted the newly created position of publisher of CBC News.

Richard Stursberg, CBC Television's executive vice-president, and CBC Radio vice-president Jane Chalmers, made the announcement to staff.

Stursberg said Cruickshank is an "exceptionally talented manager," and "deeply knowledgeable and committed to the highest-quality journalism."

Chalmers added that "even though he's spent the last few years outside the country, he's very excited about the opportunity to return to Canada. He sees this job as the best job in journalism in Canada."

Born and raised in Toronto, Cruickshank is a former editor in chief of the Vancouver Sun and also worked as managing editor of the Globe and Mail, which he joined as a reporter in 1981. He has also worked at the Montreal Gazette and the Kingston Whig-Standard.

Cruickshank served as editorial vice-president and co-editor of the Chicago Sun-Times from 2000 until 2003, when he was named publisher. He succeeded David Radler, who resigned amid the fraud scandal that enveloped the paper's parent company, formerly known as Hollinger International Inc.

In 2003, Cruickshank was also appointed COO of Sun-Times Media's Chicago group, which encompasses more than 100 newspapers in the Chicago area.

Cruickshank's areas of interests, Chalmers said, include the use of multimedia and digital applications, and the "different ways how news has to transform to serve better and provide a relationship with people."

As part of Cruickshank's duties, which are expected to begin in three to four weeks, Cruickshank will select a new editor in chief for CBC News.

Longtime CBC newsman Tony Burman ended his tenure as editor in chief of CBC's English-language news, current affairs and Newsworld divisions on July 13.

Burman had been with the public broadcaster for nearly 35 years.

In a phone conference with staff, Stursberg and Chalmers explained their decision to divide the top CBC News post.

They said Burman had been fulfilling two jobs: the difficult task of dealing with the daily news content as well as overall management of the CBC's entire news division. They described the new position of publisher as following the model set by newspapers.