For the third time since 2008, NPR is searching for a new chief executive, following Gary Knell’s surprise announcement Monday that he is leaving the public broadcast agency to lead the National Geographic Society, The New York Times and The Washington Post report.
In an e-mail to NPR staff, Mr. Knell said he had been approached by National Geographic and offered an opportunity “I could not turn down.” The nonprofit magazine publisher and research organization has twice as many employees and a significantly bigger budget than NPR, which has run a deficit under Mr. Knell and regularly faces congressional threats to its funding.
He will replace John Fahey, National Geographic’s CEO since 1998, who will remain with the society as chairman.
Mr. Knell, a former head of nonprofit production company the Sesame Workshop, took the top job at NPR in December 2011, nine months after Vivian Schiller resigned following a series of scandals at the radio network. Ms. Schiller had taken over for Ken Stern, who was ousted in March 2008 after 18 months in office. The Post and Times articles address how Mr. Knell’s departure and the continuing leadership churn will affect NPR’s finances and operations.