Hollinger Director Resigns

By: Ravi Nessman, Associated Press Writer (AP) Hollinger Inc., the Toronto-based holding company controlled by disgraced media baron Conrad Black, lost an independent director Tuesday when a former general in Canada's armed forces resigned from its board.

Richard Rohmer, who is 80 years old, cited personal reasons and work pressures for his decision to step down from the board of Hollinger Inc., whose main asset is its 68% voting control of Hollinger International Inc., a Chicago-based newspaper publisher.

Rohmer, a former fighter pilot and best-selling author, had been appointed to Hollinger Inc.'s board in January after all four of the company's previous independent directors resigned en masse the previous November after the full board of Hollinger Inc. rejected their proposals to revamp the company. Rohmer's departure leaves Hollinger Inc. with three independent directors.

Black, a Canadian-born newspaper tycoon, was forced out as CEO and chairman of Hollinger International after an internal investigation found that he and several associates improperly received millions in payments that should have gone to the company. However, Black retains voting control of Hollinger International through Hollinger Inc.

Black recently lost a legal battle to block the sale of The Daily Telegraph of London, a major asset of Hollinger International, to the Barclay brothers of Britain, twins whose business interests include real estate, retail and newspapers.

Following the sale of the Telegraph, Hollinger International's newspapers include the Chicago Sun-Times and The Jerusalem Post. An internal review into the governance of Hollinger International is continuing and is expected to conclude soon.