Longtime Midwest Communications Market Manager Peter Tanz has been elevated to the role of the company’s President.
Tanz succeeds Duke Wright — the company’s founder — after his death in December. Wright bought his first radio station in 1958 before officially launching Midwest Communications in 1971.
Tanz joined Midwest Communications in 1985 in the sales department of WIXX in Green Bay. He was later promoted to General Manager of the company’s stations in Wausau, Wisconsin. He then led stations throughout the company in several states before returning to Green Bay as the cluster’s Senior Vice President and Market Manager in 2016.
“Peter has worked with and learned the business of broadcasting from Duke for over 35 years,” said Pegge Wright, Midwest Communications chairwoman and widow of Duke Wright. “He is well-respected throughout our company and is the best choice to lead Midwest to future success the way Duke wanted.”
A member of the Small and Medium Market Radio committee with the NAB, Tanz received high praise from his co-workers.
“I am so proud of Peter as our new President,” Midwest Chief Sales Officer Jeff Wright — son of founder Duke Wright — said. “He clearly is the most qualified for this position, and the future of Duke Wright’s Midwest Communications is in confident hands. It goes to show you that you don’t need the ‘Wright’ last name to be part of the family as we have always considered Peter as one of the family.”
