David Asper

David Asper was called to the Bar in 1986, and practiced primarily in the area of criminal defense litigation. He left the practice of law in 1992 after successfully serving as co-counsel in the David Milgaard case. Asper joined CanWest Global Communications Corp. as part of a decision by the Asper family to begin the process of second-generation ownership succession and has held several operational and corporate executive positions within the company.

In 1999, Asper took a leave of absence from CanWest to concentrate on a number of private family business interests including the building of a commercial real estate company. He re-joined CanWest in a consulting role during the due diligence leading up the acquisition of the Hollinger Canadian newspaper assets. Following the completion of the transaction, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors’ Publications Committee, and Chairman of the Editorial Board of Southern News. Asper is now Executive Vice President of the company, and was appointed Chairman of The National Post in May 2003.