Ju-Don Marshall is now leading WFAE in Charlotte, N.C., as president and CEO, the station’s board of directors announced Tuesday.
“The Board of Directors voted unanimously to elevate Ju-Don to CEO based on her performance to date at WFAE, her vision for its future and her national reputation,” WFAE Board Chair Chris Cicoletti said in a press release.
Marshall has worked for WFAE since 2017, most recently as executive VP and CCO. She succeeds Joe O’Connor, who stepped down last month.
“Ju-Don is a journalist’s journalist, but she is also a strategic thinker who has successfully led the business side of various news organizations, from start-ups to turnarounds to mature platforms needing fresh ideas,” Search Committee Chair Kris Shepard said in the release. “She is a mission-driven leader whom we’re eager for more of our supporters, community leaders, news sources and everyday listeners to get to know.”
Together, Marshall and O’Connor “broadened the organization’s revenue base and value to its underwriters,” according to the release.
“I believe in setting people up for success,” Marshall said in the release. “I think of WFAE as small but mighty. As our country experiences ongoing decline in local news outlets and coverage, I am proud of how we are helping our listeners and readers get the information they need to be better citizens. That is the role of public media — to pull more people in rather than push them out. The stronger WFAE is as a trusted news platform, the better our city and region will be.”