After eight years at the head of ctv's news division and on the heels of bce's $2.32-billion takeover, Henry Kowalski is resigning from his lofty position in favor of some quality leisure time.

"I only have plans to do absolutely nothing. I have made no decisions, including the decision about when I'll be making any decisions," says Kowalski.

Although he's already received offers, ones of course he refuses to discuss in any detail, he says, "I just want the chance to take some deep breaths and explore the child inside me.

"My personal stock is pretty high....I'm not worried that there'll be work for me when I'm ready."

Kowalski joined CTV News in 1984 and worked as head of assignment, specials producer, and Toronto and Vancouver bureau chief, until he was appointed chief news editor in 1992. In 1997, he was promoted to vp and gm, CTV News, and in 1998, he assumed his current title, senior vp, news.

Among Kowalski's many achievements, he has been responsible for CTV News with Lloyd Robertson and Sandy Rinaldo, CTV Newsnet, all local newscasts on the network's owned and operated stations across Canada, Canada am and W-Five.

"It's a good time [to leave] in terms of CTV News because all the shows are doing really well," says Kowalski. "As for strategic planning, it takes four months to strike a budget and implement it and I think I've left the company with enough time for an orderly transition."

He will stay on until the end of May to assist in the transition.

Meantime, vp of news Robert Hurst has been named acting head.