Andrew Russell, a veteran pubcasting executive with more than 18 years’ experience at both PBS and CPB, is moving to PBS SoCal in Orange County, Calif., as chief operating officer.
Russell
“Andy brings vast experience in strategic programming content, new business development, and digital, interactive media for public TV and radio, making him the perfect person to help drive our growth and guide our strategic direction,” said PBS SoCal President Mel Rogers said in the announcement.
Russell is currently PBS’s senior vice president for strategy and research. He manages audience and content research and strategy for national programming, as well as corporate strategy. Russell joined PBS in February 2007 as s.v.p. of PBS Ventures, managing revenue-generating activities including partnerships, video sales, corporate underwriting and online sponsorship, Shop PBS, licensing and merchandising.
At CPB, from 2000-07, he served as s.v.p. media, leading the corporation’s strategy, programming services and new ventures for both public television and radio. Russell also worked at CPB from 1990-96, rising to director, system and station development. From 1996 to 2000, he was with management consultant Accenture in Washington, D.C., advising senior management and boards of U.S. and international media, communications and technology clients.
Rogers told the Los Angeles Times that Russell was the facilitator as KOCE took over PBS primary station status in Los Angeles from KCET, which dropped PBS membership in January 2011. “So he knows today’s Southern California issues very well,” Rogers said.
Russell assumes his duties in March, and will report directly to Rogers.