NPR has announced it has named Katherine Maher as its new President and CEO. She will replace outgoing CEO John Lansing, who announced his intention to retire last year.
Currently, Maher is the CEO of Web Summit and also serves on its board of directors. Previously, she served as the CEO of Wikimedia Foundation, the parent company of Wikipedia. She led the organization for seven years, including a fundraising drive that ensured the digital platform remained financially sustainable for years to come.
“We are delighted to welcome Katherine Maher to lead NPR into its next chapter,” said Jennifer Ferro, Chair of the NPR board. “The board searched for a leader with the ability to reach audiences on new and existing platforms and leverage the network of local organizations that are providing high quality, relevant content to 99% of the country. Katherine is an extraordinary leader who has tackled the issues around reliable and accessible information for all.”
“NPR has been a lifelong part of my soundscape, expanding my worldview and stoking my curiosity. NPR inspired in me an appreciation for the power of civic institutions and a commitment to free inquiry and information,” Maher said. “As NPR’s mission of informing America continues to grow more essential; so too does our need to reinvent and reimagine ourselves in step with our ever-changing world. I am tremendously excited to take on this challenge and join NPR as a steward of our mission and founding values of news, curiosity, and culture for a diverse, robust public trust.”
Katherine Maher will begin her duties on Monday, March 25th.
