LAVAL - Former Quebecor CEO Robert Depatie has been appointed to head the St-Hubert restaurant and food chain, less than seven months after he left the media company due to unexplained health issues.

The 56-year-old executive who also guided the growth of Quebecor's Videotron cable service for more than a decade before he departed.

Depatie will take over St-Hubert in February. He previously worked at Heinz Canada and Planters.

Founded in 1951, St-Hubert has more than 10,000 employees and 100 chicken rotisserie restaurants mainly in Quebec, but also in Ontario and New Brunswick. Its retail division makes sauces, soups, ribs and meat pies for sale in supermarkets.

Quebecor announced on April 28 that Depatie was "retiring" and leave by May 30, a year after he was named CEO to replace Pierre Karl Peladeau, who entered politics and is currently running for the leadership of the Parti Quebecois.