Toronto Star publisher Jagoda Pike has stepped down from the position, leaving Torstar Corp. with the task of hunting down a permanent replacement.

In the meantime former Canwest exec Don Babick is slated to step in as interim president of the Star Media Group as well as publisher of the Star.

Pike is leaving to lead Ontario’s bid for the 2015 Pan American Games. Torstar CEO Robert Prichard said the company has launched an immediate national search for
the newspaper’s next publisher.

Babick will step in effective Oct. 4.