Marita Rivero, vice president and general manager for radio and television at producing powerhouse WGBH, is stepping down after nearly 30 years at the Boston station.
Effective in June, Rivero will be succeeded by Liz Cheng as g.m. for television and Phil Redo as g.m. for radio. Cheng is currently g.m. of WGBH’s national digital multicast channel World, which she will continue to oversee. Redo is managing director of 89.7 WGBH and WCAI.
Rivero will remain of counsel to WGBH leadership, today’s announcement noted.
Marita Rivero at a Feb. 20 Public Media Futures Forum in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Current)
“Marita’s leadership and commitment have exemplified the highest ideals of our public service mission,” WGBH President and CEO Jon Abbott said in the statement. “She has an outstanding legacy of service to WGBH and the communities we serve, having led with insight, principle and wisdom in creating programs and launching new initiatives.”
Rivero was responsible for developing signature programs such as The World on 89.7 FM, a collaboration with BBC World Service and PRI; the nightly TV news show Greater Boston; and the academic competition High School Quiz Show on WGBH 2.
She began her career at WGBH in 1970 as a producer for Basic Black, then titled Say Brother, a public affairs television program focusing on issues of importance to the African-American community.
She also worked as general manager of WPFW, Pacifica Radio in Washington, D.C., from 1981-88.
Rivero is on the NPR Board and chair of the National Black Programming Consortium Board.
“WGBH provided me with the wonderful opportunity to be part of a talented group of people involved in the important work of education, civic leadership, and joyful engagement with life’s cornucopia,” Rivero said in the announcement. “I’ve been proud to help gather a rich array of voices to be considered as part of our public discourse.”