John Boland Joins PBS as Chief Content Officer

PBS President and Chief Executive Officer Paula A. Kerger has appointed public broadcasting veteran John Boland to the newly created position, Chief Content Officer. Boland's new role includes direct television programming, new media, education and promotion. He joins the staff at PBS headquarters in Arlington, Va. in September.

The new position is part of Kerger's structural reorganization to strengthen PBS' ability in embracing new technology. The start of Boland's tenure will coincide with an internal restructuring. Under the new arrangement, he will oversee four departments: Programming; Education; Online Services; and Promotion and Brand Management.

"John Boland is the ideal person to help PBS realize the full potential of the digital revolution to serve and interact with audiences in new and meaningful ways. He has successfully created a model digital content organization at KQED, and is a respected leader in public broadcasting," said Kerger.

Boland currently serves as executive vice president and chief content officer at KQED Public Broadcasting, the San Francisco-based organization that operates the PBS and NPR stations in Northern California. PBS said Boland has played a critical role in KQED's transformation from a public broadcaster to an integrated multiplatform digital media and community service organization, blending traditional programming and new technology like Internet video on-demand, podcasting and blogs.

KQED recruited him in 1995 and in addition to his current role; Boland's previous positions at KQED include executive vice president and chief operating officer, and vice president, marketing, development and communications. Prior to KQED he held a number of senior management positions in media and communications, and started out as a daily newspaper reporter and editor.