New York – October 13, 2026 -- New York Public Radio (NYPR) said President and CEO Christy Tanner will step down, and a three-person interim Office of the CEO will run the organization while its Board of Trustees searches for a permanent successor.
Three board-linked media executives form a temporary Office of the CEO
The interim team consists of current Board members Jenna Weiss-Berman and Gary Knell, plus LaFontaine Oliver. Oliver will also serve as interim acting President.
All three have established ties to NYPR and to the wider media sector:
- Weiss-Berman co-founded Pineapple Street Studios and now leads podcasts at Paper Kite Productions.
- Knell previously served as President and CEO of NPR, CEO of Sesame Workshop, and Chief Executive of National Geographic.
- Oliver previously served as NYPR's President and CEO and now chairs the Board of Public Media Infrastructure.
Board Chair John Rose cites decades of public media experience
Board Chair John Rose said the trio bring decades of experience in public media, journalism and management, along with deep knowledge of NYPR. He said the Board is confident they can support staff and serve audiences during the search for the next President and CEO.
NYPR gave no timeline for the search. It said the Board will conduct a thoughtful process to identify the permanent leader. The announcement did not state a reason for Tanner's departure or the date it takes effect.
Newsroom and programming operations continue across WNYC, WQXR and Gothamist
NYPR said its journalists, producers, hosts and staff will keep delivering the same journalism and programming through the transition. The interim team's stated priority is to support that work and the people behind it. The organization named audiences of WNYC, WQXR and Gothamist as the focus of continuity.