KQED formally introduced Michael Isip as its new president and CEO on Wednesday. He succeeds John Boland, who recently announced his retirement and will remain with the station as president emeritus through September.
Isip joined KQED in 2001 and has served in a number of senior-level roles for the PBS and NPR member station.
“We couldn’t be more excited and fortunate to elevate Michael to president and CEO,” said KQED Board Chair Hank Barry in a statement issued by the station. “Working closely alongside John, Michael led and executed many of the strategic initiatives that have enabled KQED to become one of the largest and most successful public media institutions in the country. KQED and the people of the Bay Area will benefit from Michael’s tremendous leadership abilities and strategic vision, and especially his deep commitment and passion for public service.”
Isip joined KQED as an executive producer in TV Productions, and moved into numerous roles that ultimately expanded his responsibilities to include television and radio production and programming, education, broadcast, digital and IT, engineering and operations, facilities and revenue.
One of Isip’s most vital contributions to KQED was overseeing the reorganization of its content division away from distribution platforms (TV, radio, online) to a structure of multimedia teams for news, arts, science and education. This restructure facilitated greater collaboration across KQED and increased digital content and services. Today, KQED’s total audience and membership are at all-time highs.
“KQED will build and strengthen community using every means possible,” Isip said. “We will combine media, journalism and technology for good, and strive to be the leading convener of civic and civil dialogue in the Bay Area. We will inform with coverage that not only values how our community feels, but what we know to be accurate, factual and true. Our coverage will inspire by enabling audiences to explore the wonders of science and discover, experience and explore the Bay Area arts and culture. And, our educational services will continue to expand by involving youth and empowering them to create digital media, collaborate and learn critical thinking skills.”
Much of Isip’s immediate focus will be to lead the station through a major renovation of its San Francisco headquarters, beginning this summer.
Before arriving at KQED, Isip led local production as an executive producer at KVIE Public Television in Sacramento. He started his career at WLS-TV in Chicago. He is a senior fellow for the American Leadership Forum — Silicon Valley. He is also on the board of directors for Public Radio International and Public Radio Exchange (PRI/PRX), American Documentary Inc., producer of the PBS documentary series “POV,” and is a former director of Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC).
