Two technology chiefs are making their exit from PBS. Andre Mendes, chief technology integration officer, and Ed Caleca, senior vice president of technology and operations, will be leaving the organization this month.
With the exception of a brief excursion into bioengineering, Mendes has been with the network since 1998. During his tenure, he moved PBS onto IT-based and automated distribution systems and led the consolidation of PBS technical operations. He has accepted a position as global chief information officer at a "Washington, D.C.-based organization with offices in all 50 states and operations in 150 countries," according to a PBS spokeswoman. His last day at PBS will be Sept. 29.
Caleca will leave as of Sept. 15, after 10 years with the Public Broadcasting Service. Caleca managed the satellite interconnection system and other technical operations; helped develop the PBS Next Generation Interconnection System and assisted in various carriage negotiations. He will continue to work as a consultant to PBS for "several months after that," the spokeswoman said.
She also said that PBS has just initiated a nationwide search for a new technology chief, and until Caleca's successor is appointed, Eric Wolf, a technology executive with more than 20 years experience, will helm the PBS technology operations.
