Molly Phillips, executive director and GM of state network Iowa PBS, announced plans to retire Wednesday.
Phillips’ retirement will become official after Jan. 1. The Iowa Public Broadcasting Board announced a national recruitment plan to replace her.
“Molly is a steadfast leader who has stayed true to Iowa PBS’s mission to educate, inform, enrich and inspire Iowans,” said Courtney Maxwell Greene, board president, in a news release. “She invests in her team and has spent much of the past decade fostering a culture of creativity and innovation. She leaves Iowa PBS with an ambitious strategic plan and a talented professional team to execute it.”
Phillips has led Iowa PBS since 2013 and has worked at the network since 1990. She previously worked as director of communications and community engagement. For nearly 15 years, she was also responsible for the network’s state and federal public policy advocacy.
Phillips recently served as professional vice chair for PBS’ board of directors. She was also chair of the Organization of State Broadcasting Executives and chair of the Affinity Group Coalition of Public Media Organizations.
“It has been wonderful to watch Iowa PBS thrive under Molly’s leadership, earning countless awards for quality programming, expanding distribution across platforms to meet the evolving needs of audiences and deepening its commitment to Iowa’s youngest learners,” said PBS President Paula Kerger in the release.
Phillips also served as chair of the boards ofAmerica’s Public Television Stations and the National Education Telecommunications Association. APTS presented her with its National Advocacy Award in 2010.
“Molly has gained a legion of admirers throughout our industry for her intelligence, her energy, her good humor and her unfailing willingness to help others achieve their professional and personal ambitions in public media,” said APTS President Pat Butler in the release.
“I am immensely proud of the statewide network and the stories we have shared with Iowans over the last 34 years,” said Phillips in the release. “I will retire with confidence that the extraordinary team here at Iowa PBS is well positioned for the future, and will continue bringing compelling voices and programming to a devoted audience by telling Iowa’s stories like no one else can.”