APTN on the lookout for new COO

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The chairman of the board of directors of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Clayton Gordon, announced on April 6 that his board had "exercised their option to conclude the employment agreement with Chief Operating Officer, Ron Nadeau, effective immediately."

Nadeau was relieved of this position, held for two years, that same day. He was informed of the decision, reached by members of the board while they met in Winnipeg over the previous few days, at his office in the network's Winnipeg headquarters.

Gordon has assumed the COO position while a replacement for Nadeau is recruited.

The board chairman issued a memo to APTN staff along with a copy of the press release announcing the decision. The memo was not intended for general circulation, however a copy was obtained by Windspeaker.

In the memo, Gordon reminds the staff, including the many journalists employed in the network's news and public affairs sections, to not talk about APTN's situation.

"Most of you are aware of the recent decision of the board, after much deliberation, to conclude the employment with Ron Nadeau," the staff memo reads. "I would like to remind you at this time of the policies regarding confidentiality and to direct you to discuss any questions regarding confidentiality with your immediate supervisor."

Gordon did not specify exactly what it was the staff members were not supposed to talk about. He was also vague about the board's reasons for the decision regarding the former COO.

"The board has completed a full review of the progress and current status of the network and felt it was time for a change in leadership direction," Gordon wrote in the press release. "We appreciate Mr. Nadeau's contributions over the past two years, but we have to look at the best interests for the future of the network. We wish Mr. Nadeau every success in his future endeavors."

The chairman of the board told the staff "the search [for Nadeau's successor] will focus on a candidate with expertise in the direction that the network is planning."

No information regarding details of that direction was included in the memo.

The press release also stated "Gordon was quick to add that the board and management of APTN are currently in the process of in-depth planning for the future progress of APTN."

Windspeaker made contact with Gordon via e-mail and asked for an interview regarding the decision to release Nadeau. A series of questions, and phone numbers where Gordon could reach Windspeaker, was e-mailed to him on May 16. He responded on May 18, writing he preferred to respond to the questions by e-mail.

Gordon's response indicates the APTN board does not appreciate recent coverage of its activities by this publication.

"Further to your e-mail dated May 16, I have chosen to respond via e-mail in hopes that the past inaccuracies reported by Windspeaker in articles written under your banner may be minimized. APTN has been extremely disappointed in the number of factual errors reported regarding our business in your publication," Gordon wrote.

Gordon does not detail what in the Windspeaker coverage he considered inaccurate. Stories detailing key defections of news staff, disagreements between staff and management over financial resources for news, the unionization of news and public affairs staff and other matters have been published since November 2001.

Gordon was told that Windspeaker had both the press release regarding Nadeau's release and the staff memo regarding confidentiality requirements. He was asked: "What do you need to keep secret about a matter that you've already made a public statement about?"

Gordon chose not to respond to that question.

He was also asked what reasons the board relied on to reach their decision regarding Nadeau's release. Again he chose not to respond.

Gordon did state that Nadeau was not fired; the board just decided not to renew the agreement for employment with him.

Asked who would make the decision on a rplacement, the board chairman wrote, "The executive of the APTN board, in conjunction with the entire board, will guide the process of the executive search for a replacement. The search will be facilitated by an executive search firm. The executive is in the process of choosing the most appropriate firm to assist us in our search. When that decision is made, the firm and the executive will determine the qualifications required."

He added that the search is expected to take a couple of months.

"We are hoping that the successful candidate will be in place by end of July 2002 at the latest, however the emphasis will be on finding the right candidate."