NEPM Executive Action – RAMP – Radio and Music Professionals

• New England Public Media (NEPM) recently announced significant changes to its leadership team, particularly with respect to John SuttonNEPM’s interim Chief Content Officer, who has accepted the newly created position of Vice President of Content and Audience Strategy.

“In this pioneering role, John will develop the strategy and plan to make NEPM the indispensable leader for Western Mass.,” says Matt AbramovitzPresident of NEPM. “After months of searching, John stood out because of his years of strategic and programming consulting in the public broadcasting system, as well as his in-house experience at NPR and Pittsburgh’s WESA. In his year-long role as interim CCO, John directly shaped the plan to expand NEPM’s format, helped launch The Rundown with Carrie Saldoand led initiatives such as Hunger Awareness Week and the launch of NEPM’s latest podcast, The secrets we keepand brings our content and marketing teams together in new and exciting ways.”

A Pittsburgh native, Sutton began his career in public television in 1987 as director of on-air advertising and fundraising at NPR. During his 10 years at NPR, he also led the network’s audience research department, sat on the program strategy committee and founded the public broadcaster’s on-air fundraising partnership. In 1997, he founded his own consulting firm, and in 2017, Sutton was named GM of the NPR affiliate in Pittsburgh. WESAHe also served as vice president of audience and revenue for WESA’s parent organization, Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting.

Sutton’s promotion is just the latest of several changes in NEPM’s leadership: Rebecca Egan was promoted to Sales Manager; Ayu Suryawan has switched to Digital Producer for The fabulous 413 And The Rundown with Carrie Saldo; Nirvani Williams joins the newsroom as a full-time reporter to cover socioeconomic disparities in Western Massachusetts; Teresa Bendzinski joined the NEPM team in April as Major Gifts Officer; and NEPM welcomed Mandy Garfield as Account Executive in May.

“We are very fortunate to welcome so many talented people to Team NEPM,” said Abramovitz. “I admire their diverse perspectives, extensive experience and clear commitment to our mission.”