The CRTC has named Judith LaRocque as interim chair while the commission seeks a permanent successor for former chair Jean-Pierre Blais.

Canadian Heritage confirmed the interim appointment to Playback Daily, adding that a permanent chair will be named once the hiring process is complete. No timeline was given.

LaRocque, a former Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, was appointed as vice-chair of broadcasting at the CRTC in November 2016. Her term expired in May and that position has since remained vacant. Her previous roles include serving as Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.

Blais’ five-year tenure as CRTC chair came to an end June 17, before which, Blais took aim at broadcasters, government and the CBC in a wide-ranging speech at the Banff World Media Festival last week.