Curtis LeGeyt is now president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Broadcasters, succeeding Gordon Smith.
The transition had been announced last year. Smith moves into an advisory and advocacy role.
One of the first changes under LeGeyt is the creation of an NAB chief of staff. Michelle Lehman will hold that job while retaining her role as EVP of the Public Affairs department. Lesley Peña is promoted to deputy chief of staff; she was LeGeyt’s executive assistant when he was COO.
“Lehman will serve as an advisor to LeGeyt and assist him in implementing his vision for the organization, guiding cross-departmental initiatives and focusing on NAB’s strategic priorities,” the organization stated. “Peña will serve as an advisor to LeGeyt and Lehman and will work with NAB departments to ensure the association’s operational priorities are met.”
[Read Radio World’s 2021 interview of NAB’s incoming leader.]
The association said its senior leadership team under LeGeyt will consist of Chris Brown, executive vice president and managing director, Global Connections and Events; April Carty-Sipp, executive vice president, Industry Affairs; Shawn Donilon, executive vice president, Government Relations; Michelle Duke, chief diversity officer and president, NAB Leadership Foundation; Téa Gennaro, chief financial officer and executive vice president, Finance and Administration; Rick Kaplan, chief legal officer and executive vice president, Legal and Regulatory Affairs; Sue Keenom, senior vice president, State, International and Board Relations; Michelle Lehman, executive vice president, Public Affairs; and Sam Matheny, chief technology officer and executive vice president, Technology.
Karen Wright will continue serving as executive assistant to the president and CEO.
NAB Joint Board of Directors Chairman David Santrella, CEO of Salem Media Group, thanked Smith “for his many years of service as an influential advocate for our industry.” He welcomed LeGeyt as “a proven leader and skilled fighter on behalf of broadcasters.”
