Tribune executive Larry Wert has been elected Interim Chairman of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. The position has been vacant since 1995 when Arthur Nielsen stepped down after leading the museum board since 1984. Wert will also serve as Chairman of the Museum’s seven-member Executive Committee that is expected to see some changes. He’ll serve until the end of 2017.
Museum founder Bruce DuMont has served as President/CEO since 1982. Last December, DuMont announced to the board it would be his last two-year term. The National Radio Hall of Fame is owned by the MBC. As part of DuMont’s plan to ease into retirement, he transferred the chairmanship of the National Radio Hall of Fame to Kraig Kitchin in 2013.
Wert is a long-time supporter of the museum and was instrumental in attracting a $2.5 million donation from Comcast in 2012, while serving as President of WMAQ NBC Chicago. “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. By reaching out to include 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. But it is a time when we must also keep an eye on the future and include the ever-changing media landscape,” Wert added.
