Head of CTV News Michael Melling reassigned after Lisa LaFlamme fallout

CTV News head Michael Melling, who took leave from his job in August amid the fallout from the ousting of lead anchor Lisa LaFlamme, has been reassigned at Bell Media, a company statement says.

“We are pleased to announce that Richard Gray, Interim VP of News, is assigned to the role on a permanent basis. Michael Melling has been reassigned to VP Shared Services and will not be returning to CTV’s news operations,” the company statement read.

In August, Bell Media announced it would initiate a third-party workplace review after LaFlamme revealed details of her dismissal, saying she was shocked by the decision to let her go after 35 years.

It had been widely reported that Melling raised questions about the 58-year-old LaFlamme shortly after taking the position, asking who had approved the decision to “let Lisa’s hair go grey.” It was also suggested that Melling was the one who told LaFlamme she was being removed from her role.

In a video published to Twitter in August, LaFlamme said she was informed in June that her contract would not be renewed and that the media outlet was going “in a different direction.” She added she was “blindsided” by the decision to end her contract.

Bell Media weathered weeks of blowback and at one point said it “regrets” the way in which LaFlamme’s exit was handled, as it “may have left viewers with the wrong impression” that her storied career wasn’t valued.

Among the findings that emerged in the independent workplace review, conducted by employment lawyer Sarah Crossley and her associate Laura Freitag, is “a culture where people are sometimes afraid to raise concerns for fear of reprisal or inaction.”

An internal memo obtained by The Canadian Press says the review also found “a need for greater civility and respect in the newsroom” and “a desire to improve working conditions.”

In September, LaFlamme was brought on by CityNews as lead correspondent following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

With files from Lucas Casaletto of CityNews.