NPR Names Maher As Pres. & CEO
• The board of directors of NPR announced that it has selected Katherine Maher as its next President and Chief Executive Officer.
Maher is described as “a mission-driven leader” who most recently served as CEO of Web Summit and serves on its board of directors. Prior to that, Maher was CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, responsible for the success of Wikipedia. Earlier in her career Maher worked on human rights, democracy, and innovation at Access Now, the World Bank, the National Democratic Institute, and UNICEF.
“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.”
Maher remarked, “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. 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.”
Maher will begin her term at NPR on March 25, succeeding John Lansing, who has served as President & CEO since 2019. [Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Foundation]
