NYPR Appoints LaFontaine Oliver as President and CEO

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, October 4, 2022 | 4:34pm CT

LaFontaine Oliver

New York Public Radio (NYPR)'s board of trustees names LaFontaine Oliver as the next President and CEO of New York Public Radio, which includes WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space and New Jersey Public Radio. His appointment is effective in January, 2023. Oliver brings over 20 years of experience in both regional and national markets to NYPR and joins from Your Public Radio (WYPR) in Baltimore, where he currently serves as President and CEO.

Oliver has served on the NPR Board of Directors since 2016 and is currently finishing up his second term as Chair of NPR's Board, a position he has held since 2020. In this role, he has been responsible for the strategic oversight of the Board, helping to set the overall direction for NPR management, monitor the performance of the organization, and provide financial oversight.

Prior to WYPR, Oliver spent six years at the helm of WMFE in central Florida, where he oversaw the acquisition of WMFV, expanded its slate of public affairs programming and helped to establish and grow local, regional and national reporting partnerships. From 2007-13, Oliver served as General Manager of WEAA, the jazz and talk station of Morgan State University.

"We are thrilled to announce LaFontaine as the next CEO of New York Public Radio," said NYPR Board of Trustees Chair Timothy A. Wilkins. "He's a veteran public radio leader and broadcaster who has nimbly led through significant industry shifts of the last 20 years. His record of success spans from innovative programming and expanding the audience and reach for public radio to finding creative avenues for continued revenue growth amidst a rapidly changing media landscape.

"As an experienced station leader and NPR Board Chair, he is well-attuned to the specific challenges facing local journalism and is a champion of the mission-driven, local / national partnership model of public radio. We are incredibly excited to welcome him to New York Public Radio and look forward to seeing all we can accomplish together in the coming years."

"I am beyond excited to join the talented team at New York Public Radio," said Oliver. "This opportunity brings together my career's work and passion for our ever-evolving medium with one of public media's most innovative and successful organizations. To continue that work in service of one of the most diverse communities in the country will be a true honor."