Remembering Saga’s Ed Christian

• UPDATED: Saga Communications, Inc. announced with great respect and sorrow the passing of its founder, Chairman, President & CEO, Ed Christian, who died on Friday, August 19 after a short illness.

Warren Lada, a member of Saga’s Board of Directors and former Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed by the Board to serve as the Interim CEO. The Board is confident that Warren’s vast experience in the broadcast industry as a sales representative, sales manager, general manager, Vice President of Operations and ultimately as Chief Operating Officer of the Company will fill the void that Ed leaves as the Company prepares for the next chapter in “Saga’s ongoing adventure.”

Christian founded Saga in 1986 and has fostered its growth to to the point where is currently owns 79 FMs, 35 AMs and 80 translator stations in 27 markets. Under his leadership the Company became a publicly traded company in 1992 and continues to be traded under the ticker symbol “SGA” on Nasdaq.

In a statement, Saga noted, “The broadcast industry has lost a pioneer and giant. Saga expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Christian family and Ed’s friends and colleagues. Ed will be missed but not forgotten. He is and was a true radio broadcaster that never lost sight of his ‘true north’ in an industry he loved.”

NAB President & CEO Curtis LeGeyt said of Christian, “Ed Christian built Saga Communications into one of the preeminent radio groups in the country through keen business sense and a deep understanding of the power of local radio. He was a passionate defender of broadcasting whose leadership helped secure a bright future for the radio community. NAB extends our condolences to his family on their loss.”