The head of the NAB Radio Department will soon conclude his day-to-day role, but will not be saying goodbye to the broadcast media industry’s chief lobbying organization.
John David, who holds the title of EVP of NAB Radio, will become a Senior Advisor to the NAB, effective Feb. 1.
David has been “an ambassador without peer for radio broadcasting, and we’re delighted he’s taking on new duties for NAB,” said NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith. “Our affection for John is matched only by the value that he brings as a unifying voice for all radio broadcasters.”
Meanwhile, David is looking forward to the transition, noting that he is “pleased to refocus my advocacy for radio on new directions and projects that NAB has asked me to pursue. I’ll be using my experience and background at NAB to work closely with our impressive staff to help us to continue to win in Washington.”
David joined NAB in 1989 as VP of NAB Broadcaster Congressional Relations, where he was responsible for state broadcaster associations, the NAB political action committee and the legislative liaison committee for grass roots lobbying.
In 1992, he became SVP of NAB Radio and was promoted in 1998 to EVP, where he has been NAB’s radio liaison for membership and service to NAB member radio stations.
He also has overseen radio sessions at the NAB Show in Las Vegas and the Radio Show, and radio awards programs including the National Radio Award, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards and the NAB Marconi Radio Awards. David has been Executive Producer of the Marconi Radio Awards dinner and show for 27 years.
Prior to joining NAB, David had a distinguished career in radio management at stations in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas. From 1971-1988, he was EVP of J. R. Broadcasting Company as owner and GM of radio stations in Missouri and Kansas.
From 1984-1988, David represented Kansas and Missouri as a member of the NAB Radio Board. He is a past president of the Missouri Broadcasters Association, a recipient of Missouri’s Distinguished Broadcaster Award, and is a member of both the Oklahoma and Missouri broadcasters’ Hall of Fame.
Streamline Publishing’s co-owned Radio INK magazine named David to its list of the Top 40 Most Powerful People in Radio since 2000, and he was a recipient of the Ward Quaal Leadership Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America at the NAB Show in 2017.
— Additional reporting by Adam R Jacobson, from Nassau, Bahamas
