As the Museum of Broadcast Communication in Chicago looks to expand its board of directors and prepares to launch a new capital campaign in 2017, officials have turned to Riverside resident Larry Wert to serve as the museum’s interim chairman for at least the next 14 months.
Last week, the museum announced that the 60-year-old Wert, who is president of Tribune Media’s broadcast division, will serve as interim chairman until Dec. 31, 2017 as it identifies a new chairman.
According to a press release, Wert is a longtime museum supporter and “was instrumental in attracting a $2.5 million donation from Comcast in 2012” when Wert was with NBC in Chicago.
The museum is in something of a leadership flux. The chairman’s seat has been vacant since 1995 after Arthur C. Nielsen Jr. stepped down after a decade as chairman. Bruce DuMont, who founded the museum, has been president/CEO since 1982. In late 2015, DuMont was re-elected to the board unanimously. But at the time, he announced it would be his final two-year term.
“I am honored to lead the MBC at this pivotal time in its history and pleased to be working with Bruce DuMont to see his dream live on for decades to come,” Wert said in a press release. “By reaching out to a new generation of leadership and with the support of an expanded and dedicated board, this time of transition will allow the museum to solidify its national reputation as a leading institution for the study of radio and television history.”
A succession planning process is being directed by museum board member Ron Culp.
“Securing the commitment of Larry Wert to serve as interim chairman of the MBC is step one,” Culp said.
