He’s presently the President/CEO of “Your Public Radio” in Baltimore, and led the NPR Member station through COVID-19 while growing revenue and listenership and directing the acquisition of WTMD-FM from Towson University.
Now, he’ll soon be heading to the Big Apple to lead two big noncommercial audio brands.
LaFontaine Oliver has been named the next President/CEO of New York Public Radio, comprised of NPR Member station WNYC-AM & FM, Classical WQXR-FM & WQXW-FM, and the stations that comprise New Jersey Public Radio.
His appointment is effective in January 2023.
Timothy A. Wilkins, Chair of the NYPR Board of Trustees, was thrilled to announce Oliver as the new CEO of New York Public Radio. “He’s a veteran public radio leader and broadcaster who has nimbly led through significant industry shifts of the last 20 years,” Wilkins said. “His record of success spans from innovative programming and expanding the audience and reach for public radio to finding creative avenues for continued revenue growth amidst a rapidly changing media landscape. As an experienced station leader and NPR Board Chair, he is well-attuned to the specific challenges facing local journalism and is a champion of the mission-driven, local / national partnership model of public radio. We are incredibly excited to welcome him to New York Public Radio and look forward to seeing all we can accomplish together in the coming years.”
Oliver said, ““I am beyond excited to join the talented team at New York Public Radio. This opportunity brings together my career’s work and passion for our ever-evolving medium with one of public media’s most innovative and successful organizations. To continue that work in service of one of the most diverse communities in the country will be a true honor.”
Prior to joining “Your Public Radio,” which has the WYPR letters, Oliver spent six years at the helm of WMFE-FM in Orlando. From 2007 to 2013, Oliver served as General Manager of WEAA-FM in Baltimore, the jazz and spoken word station owned by Morgan State University.
