O’Keefe brings award-winning journalism, nonprofit leadership, and storytelling expertise to the nation’s largest public media organization.
NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Trustees of WNET today announced the appointment of Edward F. O’Keefe as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. O’Keefe succeeds Neal Shapiro, who becomes President Emeritus and will retire at the end of the year after nearly two decades leading the nation’s largest public media company. O’Keefe will assume his role at WNET on September 21st. Most recently, O’Keefe served as President and CEO of the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, where he led the successful launch of the $450 million institution honoring the nation’s 26th President.
Before joining the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as Founding CEO, O’Keefe spent more than 20 years in broadcast and digital media leadership at ABC News, CNN, and NowThis. During his journalism career, he earned numerous honors, including a Primetime Emmy Award for his work with Anthony Bourdain, two Webby Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a George Foster Peabody Award as part of ABC News’ coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks. He is also the author of The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women in the Arena, published in 2024 by Simon & Schuster.
“Ed O’Keefe is the right leader for WNET due to his exceptional combination of nonprofit leadership, editorial excellence, digital innovation, and operational expertise,” said James Attwood, Chairman of the WNET Board of Trustees. “He is uniquely qualified to lead our organization at a pivotal moment for public media. Ed brings the vision, energy, and strategic leadership needed to build on WNET’s extraordinary legacy while positioning the organization for the future.”
“Returning to my roots to lead an institution as vital as WNET is a profound honor,” said O’Keefe. “Independent public media is uniquely insulated from the commercial pressures squeezing legacy media and streaming, giving us a rare opportunity to innovate and meet audiences wherever they are. Our mission is to tell the stories that need and deserve to be told. Neal Shapiro has built an extraordinary legacy, and I look forward to working closely with him for a smooth and successful transition.”
A former entrepreneurship fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, O’Keefe graduated with honors from Georgetown University. A native of North Dakota, he lives in New York with his wife, their two children, and a Bernese Mountain dog.
About The WNET Group
The WNET Group creates inspiring media content and meaningful experiences for diverse audiences nationwide. It is the community-supported home of New York’s THIRTEEN – America’s flagship PBS station – WLIW, THIRTEEN PBS KIDS, THIRTEEN WORLD and WLIW Create; Long Island’s only NPR station WLIW-FM; ALL ARTS, the arts and culture media provider; newsroom NJ Spotlight News; and FAST channel PBS Nature. Through these channels and streaming platforms, The WNET Group brings arts, culture, education, news, documentary, entertainment, and DIY programming to more than five million viewers each month. The WNET Group’s award-winning productions include signature PBS series Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, and Amanpour and Company and trusted local news programs like NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi. Inspiring curiosity and nurturing dreams, The WNET Group’s award-winning Kids’ Media and Education team produces the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase, interactive Mission US history games, and resources for families, teachers and caregivers. A leading nonprofit public media producer for more than 60 years, The WNET Group presents and distributes content that fosters lifelong learning, including initiatives addressing poverty, jobs, economic opportunity, social justice, understanding, and the environment. Through Passport, station members can stream new and archival programming anytime, anywhere. The WNET Group represents the best in public media. Join us.
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SOURCE WNET
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