Could Andy Lack, chairman of the Bloomberg Media Group, become the first CEO of U.S. international broadcasting efforts?
The website BBG Watch, run by former Voice of America official Ted Lipien, says it has confirmed that members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors voted to offer the CEO position to Lack. A board spokeswoman declined comment to Radio World about the report.
Hiring a CEO for U.S. international broadcasting has been an important goal of reform efforts, as we have reported; and legislation to replace the BBG with a United States International Communications Agency, including a board and CEO, recently passed the House.
Andrew Lack has been chairman of Bloomberg Media Group since September 2013; he was its CEO for five years prior. He is a former TV journalist at CBS News and has held leadership positions at NBC News, Sony Music Entertainment and NBC Universal Inc., among others.
The current chairman of the BBG, Jeffrey Shell, is chairman of Universal Film Entertainment and former chairman of NBC Universal International. “Mr. Shell is reported to have high confidence in Andy Lack’s ability to turn the BBG agency around,” BBG Watch stated.
