OTTAWA—Former Star publisher John Cruickshank has been appointed Consul General of Canada in Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper executive for several years.

In a statement Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Cruickshank’s appointment will strengthen Canada’s presence in the U.S. Midwest. He will be responsible for consular affairs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, northwest Indiana and Kansas City.

“Mr. Cruickshank personally exemplifies the many links between Canada and the United States, which includes his time in Chicago and his tenure as publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times,” Freeland said in her statement.

“With his proven leadership, I have no doubt that he will successfully represent the best of Canada in Chicago.”

Cruickshank was the publisher of the Toronto Star from 2008 to 2016. Since then he was chairman of the Canadian Journalism Foundation and continued to serve as co-chair of Canadian Press Enterprises.

“He was a superb publisher in Chicago. He knows the community. He knows the various leaders. In fact, he was once part of Barack Obama’s book club,” Torstar Chair John Honderich said Monday.

“He is extremely well-suited to do this job . . . John will make an excellent consul.”

Born and raised in Toronto, Cruickshank started his career in journalism at the Kingston Whig Standard after completing his undergraduate degree in English literature at the University of Toronto.

He also worked at the The Gazette in Montreal, was managing editor at the Globe and Mail, and served as editor-in-chief of the Vancouver Sun.

Cruickshank worked for the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper from 2000 to 2007, first as vice-president of editorial, then as chief operating officer and publisher.

Before taking the role as Toronto Star publisher, Cruickshank was publisher of CBC News, where he oversaw the public broadcaster’s English-language online, radio and TV content.

Cruickshank will succeed Roy Norton, a Canadian diplomat who served as Consul General in Chicago from 2014 to 2016.