Katherine Maher named CEO of NPR

NPR announced Wednesday that Katherine Maher would become its next CEO, choosing a leader with an extensive track record in the nonprofit world but none in public radio.

Ms. Maher was previously the CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the popular online resource Wikipedia by raising money and providing technology infrastructure, among other things. She is the CEO of Web Summit, an organization that hosts technology events around the world.

Jennifer Ferro, NPR's board chair, said in a statement that Ms. Maher stood out for her experience addressing “issues surrounding reliable and accessible information,” adding that the search focused on candidates who could “reach an audience on new and existing platforms'. .”

Ms. Maher, 40, will take over at NPR during a critical period. Traditional radio's listenership is declining as Americans adopt alternatives like Spotify and other on-demand services, putting pressure on NPR to reach its audience in new formats.

Last year, NPR announced it would lay off 10 percent of its staff to offset a $30 million budget shortfall amid a bearish advertising market. But the network's revenues have grown steadily in recent years, thanks in part to more sponsorships — the public radio equivalent of advertising — on digital platforms.

In a statement, Ms. Maher called NPR “a lifelong part of my soundscape” that expanded her worldview and fueled her curiosity. She said the network had to “reinvent and reimagine ourselves, in line with our ever-changing world.”

“I am extremely excited to take on this challenge and join NPR as a steward of our mission and foundational values ​​of news, curiosity and culture for a diverse, robust public trust,” Ms. Maher said in her statement.

Ms Maher will start on March 25.