[This story has been updated.]

Masthead has learned of staffing changes at Transcontinental and Rogers Publishing. Most senior among the cuts is Transcontinental vice president and group publisher of English Canada consumer publications Jacqueline Howe. Hers and director of finance Marilyn Kielly’s positions were both abolished, said vice president business and consumer solutions group Pierre Marcoux. “They both did a great job, this has nothing to do with their strengths,” he said. “It has to do with restructuring.”

Howe has been with Transcontinental for five years, since the sale of Avid Media to the company in 2004. She was president and stakeholder in the company which had an annual revenue of $16 million at the time of the sale.

The majority of Howe’s staff will be reporting to Marcoux, he said. No other jobs were affected yesterday. “Removing these positions will allow us to share best practices within the group,” said Marcoux. “We still believe in magazines and we’d like to build on our assets and move forward.”

Changes were also made this week at Rogers, the highest profile being Chatelaine editor in chief Maryam Sanati. Senior director of brand communications for Rogers Publishing Suneel Khanna said no word has been given as to who is suceeding her in the position. Sanati was promoted to editor in chief of the number one magazine on Masthead's Top 50 Magazines in Canada in February 2008 following Sara Angel's departure after 14 months in the job.  During her time there Sanati oversaw a redesign of the magazine and celebrated its 80th birthday. 

Three jobs in production, the publisher of Canadian Printer and editor of Meetings & Incentive Travel are also rumoured to be affected. “We continue to make some difficult decisions as we transition the way we operate in order to deal with the challenging market,” said Khanna. “We have streamlined and flattened our structure in our production department and in our industry group.  Again, the changes are about strategically positioning ourselves for when the market bounces back.” Khanna would not comment on specific numbers or individuals affected in the most recent changes at the company.

Rogers Communications also announced Thursday that they will cut 900 jobs across the country, with mainly executive and management level positions affected according to a company press release.

Stay with Masthead for news on this story as it develops.