Cogeco has reportedly withdrawn its offer of employment to Montreal radio veteran Martin Spalding, who was to assume the helm of Cogeco Media as its president.

His appointment was announced to employees on Wednesday, however La Presse now reports that in a subsequent follow-up memo on Friday, Cogeco President Frédéric Perron relayed to staff that the former Bell Media and Astral Radio veteran would not be joining the company after all.

Spalding was to set to take over from Caroline Paquet, who had held the role since July 2021. The former longtime Quebecor executive parted ways with Cogeco earlier in the week.

Spalding had been working in Montreal media for most of the last three decades, most recently as Bell Media’s Regional Vice-President & General Manager, Local Radio & Television for eight years, overseeing day-to-day operations of CTV Montreal, as well as 25 French- and English-language radio stations across Quebec.

Quebec media have speculated that the appointment sparked an outcry from some Cogeco Media employees at Montreal stations it operates like 98.5 (CHMP-FM), 96.9 CKOI, The Beat 92.5 (CKBE-FM) and Rythme FM (CFGL-FM), who have been going head-to-head with Bell Media as a competitor for some time.

Spalding’s appointment would have also marked the installation of an anglophone overseeing a large number of French-language stations.

Cogeco Media had not responded to Broadcast Dialogue’s request for more information as of publication.

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