NAB's Rehr Out, McGregor Filling In

NAB announced this afternoon that its president and CEO since December 2005, David Rehr, has resigned from the trade association. It said that Janet McGregor, NAB's chief operating and financial officer, will work closely with Rehr and assume day-to-day duties until a successor is named.
By
TVNewsCheck,

After a rocky three-year tenure, David Rehr announced today that he is resigning as president of the National Association of Broadcasters.

Rehr said he plans to continue in his current role during a transition phase. During an interim period, Janet McGregor, NAB's chief operating and financial officer, will work closely with Rehr and assume day-to-day duties until a successor is named, NAB said.

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"David made a significant contribution and has been extremely dedicated to making NAB a stronger organization," NAB Joint Board Chairman Jack Sander said. "On behalf of the board of directors and our member stations, we thank him for his leadership and wish him well in the future."

"In large part due to David's efforts, we have a very solid infrastructure in place. Our senior staff members are experienced and extremely talented. Our board of directors and members are a powerful force comprised of the best minds in broadcasting," Sander said.

"I have enjoyed leading America's broadcasters through this time of change and challenge," Rehr said. "Our efforts to educate America about the digital television transition have been enormously successful, and our effort to reinvigorate radio through the Radio Heard Here campaign is positioning radio broadcasters well for the future."

Rehr joined the NAB from the National Beer Wholesalers Association in December 2005.

During his years, the NAB has suffered a series of setbacks in Washington. The NAB failed to obtain multicast must-carry rights for TV stations; it also failed to block the XM-Sirius radio merger as well as the FCC's so-called "white spaces" initiative opening up broadcast spectrum for shared use by computer devices.

It is now fighting what appears to be an uphill battle to prevent Congress from requiring radio stations to pay royalties to record labels.

The Rehr NAB had no better luck at the FCC than it did on Capitol Hill.

On his watch, the FCC mandated DTV transition awareness PSAs, imposed a rigorous quarterly programming disclosure regime and launched a rulemaking that may result in programming quotas and stiff ascertainment requirements.

In general, the NAB is seen as a weaker lobby than it was under the leadership of Rehr's predecessor, Eddie Fritts.

Prior to joining NAB in 2008, McGregor spent 26 years at Lockheed Martin Corp., most recently as president and CEO of the Lockheed Martin Investment Management Company.

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Comments (18) -

Bystander Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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This is horrible! Now there won't be an MOW and French Stewart has no chance for a comeback!
TailorMade Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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I'm surprised it took so long.
Dan Greenblatt posted over 3 years ago
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Time to recruit a Broadcaster like Alan Perris (TV Acad. Pres.)
mediawiseguy Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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There are enough sterling broadcasters for the post. The NAB needs a Rick Feldman type executive,he of NATPE , with backbone, experience, and a strong competitive spirit. Broadcasters are still the hearth of this democracy and have been sorely damaged by both the regulators at the FCC and a Congress wooed by the likes of Eric Schmidt and his Gogglemania.
Bailusout Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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Eddie has a new firm, maybe they should give him a call.
Bystander Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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Rick is great, but newly entrenched in a 3-year contract...what they need is a broadcaster like Marcellus Alexander, already a top NAB exec, and overlooked when they brought beer-boy in. Alexander is brilliant and respected. He's exactly what NAB needs to right its sinking ship.
Jackson Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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I think Marcellus Alexander would be a great choice as the next NAB President. He knows television inside out, was a successful executive for many years, and has a great way with people. I worked with him for four or five years and think the world of him.
Dale Remy posted over 3 years ago
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Marcellus would be an excellent choice to turn thgings around at NAB. But maybe he knows too much?
cadillac Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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Marcellus Alexander should be the only choice.
Frank Zappala posted over 3 years ago
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In my dealings with David, I found him to be dedicated and insightful, I wish him all the best. While looking at broadcasters as potental candidates we can not overlook the need to be a presence and influence on capitol hill. Success in the job relies more on the skills on the hill, then the knowledge of the broadcasting. Another consideration is that if those relationships don't exist at the time of hire, three years is not long enought to develop them. Competing interests are a lot more organized then before, and some of our freinds on the hill have retired or moved on. Finding the next president is a complex and critical task for the survival and viability of the NAB. Success will be determined by evaluation of potential candidates on all aspects of their role.
TVinmyblood Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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Looking for the pefect replacement for David, then look no further than this year's winner of the NAB Leadership Award - Diane Sutter.
Kelly McCoy posted over 3 years ago
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The TV industry waited too long to hire Rehr -- and then didn't stick with him long enough for his plan to bear fruit. Stations and networks' revenues are declining, costs increasing. Rehr's answer? Get DTV chips in laptops and FM chips in cellphones to forward-position a dying industry. The board's answer? More of the same crap, bringing up Eddie Fritz's name as a successor. The TV industry is going the way of newspapers...then fires the guy who tries to transform them into something new. The situation almost necessitates someone from outside the industry to take over.
Gordon Hastings posted over 3 years ago
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David Rehr's efforts have been legion, coming at a time when the industry has been buffeted by hurricane force winds from all directions. David followed an iconic NAB leader in Eddie Fritts, a daunting task for any successor. David's energy, sincerity , positive attidude and diligent efforts are most worthy of recognition and appreciation. He brought to the NAB good new people and kept in their posts those who deserved the opportunity to continue to serve the television and radio industry. I salute you, David, for offering your personal best in a very difficult and challenging business and political dynamic. Every good wish to you and to your family as you take this opportunity to chart your future course. With kindest regards and appreciation, Gordon Hastings ghhMANAGEMENT 7 Lincoln Avenue Greenwich, Connecticut 06830 203-661-1476 gordon@gordonhastings.com
Opinionator Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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It am surprised that Rehr threw in the towel so soon. One can only surmise that there may have been far to many cooks in the kitchen.
Bruce Thiebauth posted over 3 years ago
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The NAB should take a serious look at John David. He is an experienced broadcaster, including station ownership, and has had ample opportunity to make contacts on the Hill as a VP of NAB. Everyone knows him and he has proven himself worthy over the past years (is it 20 now?).
BU1975 Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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Who ya gonna call? Diane Sutter to the rescue!!
MediaLifer Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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Time to put a tailor to work doing the sewing. Get a broadcaster who came up through the ranks, earned his stripes, and has other business experience to support his knowledge. David was a bright guy, but this is a unique business and culture. A broadcaster who understands cable, telcos, etc. competition and new media. Mobile media experience would be great since everything is migrating to the cell phone. Too much time has been wasted doing feel good. Tough times mean strong leadership, clear vision, and changing the conversation on the Hill and FCC about the value of local broadcasters. Survival time! Lets not follow our fore-fathers in the print business.
TVRadiolawyer Nickname posted over 3 years ago
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As a communications lawyer with clients who are directly affected by the actions of the FCC and Congress, I don't think it is possible to overemphasize the importance of the NAB and its leadership and take advantage of this development to do it right this time. David Rehr is very personable and extremely bright but he was chosen for the wrong reasons. In 2005, someone on the NAB board must have figured a leader with strong Republican roots (David was a Republican fundraiser and former aide to then Rep. Vin Weber R-Minn.) and lobbying experience (beer wholesalers) could successfully interface with the Republican administration. It didn't happen. We got smoked at every turn. Unfortunately for David, last year, there was also a political sea-change and Republicans now have less than zero clout on the Hill. So, saddled with no broadcasting experience, a record highlighted by the underwhelming and ineffective "Radio Heard Here" campaign, and bearing a Scarlet R, David had to go. Now, it's time for a do-over. The NAB search team must identify a candidate who has (a) strong real broadcasting experience who can explain to the members of Congress how their actions affect the industry and why they should not do stupid things that hurt broadcasters and in turn hurt their audiences; and (b) experience as a former Democrat member of Congress that his or her fellow former members actually respect. Finally, the NAB and our industry must realize that we have more clout that any other industry if we are courageous enough to use it. If we work together and target members of congress by on-air promotional announcements and financial contributions who are either supportive (or not) and tell our audiences what we think of them, they will be afraid to mess with us. We should take a lesson from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Absolutely nobody on the Hill messes with them. We need to find a new NAB leader who can emulate AIPAC's tactics and put some fear into the Congress so they think of the consequences to their re-election before they pass an act like the one permitting a $325,000 fine for the broadcast of one foul word (even when accidental).

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