NAB Chief Operating Officer Chris Ornelas will be departing the organization Feb. 1 to become General Counsel for Beasley Media Group. Ornelas will be replaced by Curtis LeGeyt, NAB’s current EVP, Government Relations.
Ornelas joined NAB in May 2010 as EVP and Chief Strategy Officer. He was promoted to COO in 2011. Prior to joining NAB, Ornelas served as NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith’s Chief Counsel on Communications and Technology policy during Smith’s tenure as a U.S. Senator from Oregon.
The NAB announced several other changes…
LeGeyt joined NAB in October 2011 as SVP and Legislative Counsel, and later took on the role of SVP, Public Policy. He was promoted to EVP, Government Relations in July 2015. Prior to joining NAB, LeGeyt served as Senior Counsel to then Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy.
“I’m grateful for the remarkable accomplishments that NAB has made on behalf of our radio and TV members over the last decade, and Chris Ornelas and Curtis LeGeyt have been instrumental in that success,” said Smith.
Meanwhile, NAB Senior Vice Presidents April Carty-Sipp, Shawn Donilon, and Trish Johnson have each been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President in charge of respective departments at the National Association of Broadcasters.
Carty-Sipp was promoted to EVP of Industry Affairs, a division that includes Education, Membership and Radio/Television. Carty-Sipp joined NAB in March 2018 after a 20-year career in senior broadcast management positions.
Donilon was promoted to EVP of Government Relations, overseeing NAB advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and at the White House. Donilon joined NAB’s advocacy team in March 2013.
Prior to joining NAB, Donilon was legislative director and counsel to Rep. Charles Bass of New Hampshire, a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
Johnson was promoted to EVP of Finance/Chief Financial Officer. She joined NAB in March 2017 as SVP and Controller, Finance. She was promoted to CFO in May 2019, and leads the association’s financial operations, internal and external reporting, audit, tax, and budgeting. Before joining NAB, Johnson worked for PBS and the public TV station WETA-TV Washington.
“These promotions recognize three staff members who have contributed greatly to the success of NAB in recent years,” said Smith.
