ISHMAEL N. DARO
News Writer

Leonard Asper has resigned as head of Canwest Global Communications Corp., the media empire that owns Global television stations, the National Post and 13 daily newspapers including the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

In a memo to employees today, Asper said he “advised our Board of Directors that effective immediately I am resigning my position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Canwest Global Communications Corp. and Canwest Media Inc., as well as all of my other directorships and officer positions with the Company and its subsidiaries.”

Asper’s resignation comes at a turbulent time for Winnipeg based Canwest. After a decade of rapid expansion — not all of it wise — the company ended up with $4 billion in debt it could not pay off. Canwest’s broadcast and print divisions are currently under bankruptcy protection.

Asper’s resignation was also presented as a way to avoid a conflict of interest since he is currently bidding to retain a large share of the bankrupt company. However, there are competing bids from other groups, such as Calgary based Shaw Communications.

Asper became CEO of the company in 1999. His late father, Israel “Izzy” Asper, founded the company in 1974.