The president and CEO of Bell Media’s parent company says age and gender had nothing to do with the decision to end Lisa LaFlamme’s contract with CTV.

Mirko Bibic says shifting viewer habits meant the change was necessary to ensure Bell Media can provide its journalists with the resources they need across all platforms where news is consumed.

The backlash over LaFlamme’s abrupt ouster earlier this month saw Bell Media Vice-President of News Michael Melling take a leave of absence.

Bibic admits Melling has been the focus of “various allegations” and is on leave pending the outcome of a workplace review.

There has been unfounded speculation of late that Lisa LaFlamme was turfed because she had changed her hair colour from brown to a silver grey during the pandemic.

Her firing has led to a number of companies incorporating grey into marketing campaigns, including Dove, Wendy’s and Sports Illustrated.