His tenure has seen a boom in public radio’s audience and, just this week, selection of a new headquarters site for National Public Radio. But now NPR CEO Ken Stern will leave the organization “by mutual agreement,” the network said.
Chairman Dennis Haarsager will serve as interim CEO while the board hunts for a replacement for Stern. Kevin Klose remains as president.
Board Vice Chair Howard Stevenson will act as chairman. He commended Stern for helping improve NPR’s financial health and “initiating important work extending NPR’s reach to various new platforms including satellite and digital distribution. Under his watch, NPR News significantly increased the number of staff, foreign and domestic bureaus and areas of coverage.”
Haarsager has been on the NPR board since 2005; he is associate VP/GM of educational and public media at Washington State University.
