Swenson Named Pres./CEO of Nashville Public Radio
• Nashville Public Radio’s WPLN 90.3 FM and 91Classical/Nashville has appointed former longtime CBS Radio executive Steve Swenson as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 29, 2019. He succeeds Rob Gordon, who announced his retirement last fall after 24 years of leadership.
Swenson brings more than three decades of radio management experience to Nashville Public Radio. He was most recently SVP/Market Manager for CBS Radio Washington. Before that Swenson was VP/GM of CBS Radio’s 1010 WINS and WCBS 880/New York and GM of WTOP/Washington.
“We are delighted to have attracted Steve Swenson to Nashville Public Radio during this period of accomplishment and opportunity for our stations WPLN and 91Classical,” said Bill Carpenter, Chair of the Nashville Public Radio Board of Directors. “Steve is well-recognized for bringing engaging content rooted in community partnership to grow the markets he has served. Nashville Public Radio’s award-winning team is known for their ingenuity in providing in-depth reporting and programming that engages our long-standing and new listeners. We believe that Steve’s proven abilities will be a terrific complement to our station and our broader community as we continue to expand our offerings throughout Middle Tennessee.”
Commenting on Gordon’s tenure, Carpenter said, “We commend Rob Gordon for bringing continuity of leadership and creativity in extending the content and community service of WPLN and 91Classical. Rob has, in his always understated way, enhanced the education, intelligence and engagement of our community, and Nashville Public Radio is profoundly proud of and grateful for his leadership.”
Swenson remarked, “I’m so excited to become a part of the Nashville community, which is among the most high-potential and culturally rich media markets in the country. I look forward to working with the board and the great team at our stations to further our mission to be the most trusted Nashville voice connecting our communities through fact-based, nonpartisan journalism, great storytelling, civil conversation and music discovery.”
Swenson joins Nashville Public Radio following a period when the station has doubled its local reporting team, broadened its reach through a new award-winning series of podcasts and recently completed a $4.6 million capital campaign to enhance programming and audience development.
