Former Globe and Mail editor-in-chief Edward Greenspon has been appointed vice president of business development for the Toronto Star and Star Media Group, effective September 13.

In addition to this role, Greenspon will write a weekly column for the Star about the challenges facing Canada and the world.

Greenspon was editor-in-chief of the Globe from 2002 to 2009, and completed a complete overhaul of the paper. Before that he was responsible for creating globeandmail.com. He has since been chairman of The GPS Project, a Canadian International Council initiative aimed at producing a new global positioning strategy for Canada.

In a memo to employees Star publisher John Cruickshank writes:

“Ed is a pre-eminent media executive, bringing a rare combination of print and online experience gained over many years, combined with an in-depth understanding of the social and political issues we face in today’s world. He will work with the Star Media Group executive team to develop new sources of revenue by building on our existing Star Media Group properties, especially those that involve delivering our news and information across a wide range of platforms in ways that will allow quality journalism to continue to thrive into future.

“I am impressed by the great work going on at Star Media Group properties such as Metro, Eye Weekly, thestar.com, toronto.com, Canadian Immigrant, Torstar Syndication Service, Sing Tao and, of course, the flagship holding, the Toronto Star,” Ed says. “I don’t think any media outfit in Canada is doing a better job of facing up to the future. I’m honoured to be part of these efforts and excited to be getting back to work in an industry I love.”