Jonathan C. Abbott is an American media executive who was the president and CEO of WGBH Educational Foundation from 2007 until his resignation in 2022.[1]
Jon Abbott | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jonathan C. Abbott |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) Stanford University (MBA) |
| Occupation | Media executive |
Biography
editAbbott grew up in New York City, where his father, Forrest Abbott, was the treasurer and controller of Barnard College.[2][3] His uncle, Edward C. Melby, Jr., was the dean of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University.[4][5] He attended The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine and received his B.A. from Columbia University and M.B.A. from Stanford University.[1] He began his career in broadcasting in Columbia University's student-run radio station WKCR-FM.[1]
He joined KQED in San Francisco after graduating from Stanford, running the station's marketing and development, before moving to PBS in Washington as senior vice president of development and corporate relations.[6]
Abbot joined WGBH-TV as vice president and General Manager in 1998 and was named president and CEO in 2007.[7] During his 15 years in the position, he oversaw the development of new channels, expanded the station's presence over digital platforms, and helped GBH raise $215 million in the largest capital campaign by a public media outlet, and increased its endowment more than eightfold to nearly $525 million.[6] He also merged GBH's western Massachusetts TV affiliate WGBY with New England Public Radio to form the multiplatform New England Public Media.[8]
In 2013, Abbott was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[9] He is also a recipient of the John Jay Award from Columbia College.[10]
Abbot lives in Newton, Massachusetts with his family.[6]
In February 2022, Abbott announced plans to step down at the end of the year, and was replaced in December by Susan Goldberg.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ a b c "About Jon Abbott - WGBH". Foundation. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ "Still Giving Back". Teachers College - Columbia University. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ "Barnard Plans for Future Despite Columbia Merger Proposals". The New York Times. 1976-10-03. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ "Edward C. Melby Jr. D.V.M. Obituary (2018) The Burlington Free Press". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ "Former Veterinary College dean Edward C. Melby Jr. dies". Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ a b c Edelman, Larry (February 23, 2022). "GBH's Jonathan Abbott to step down as CEO at the end of the year - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ a b "GBH President Jon Abbott plans to step down". News. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ a b Goldsmith, Jill (2022-02-23). "Jonathan Abbott, Longtime CEO Of Public Media's GBH In Boston, To Step Down At Year's End". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ "Jonathan C. Abbott". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ "Five Alumni Honored at John Jay Awards Dinner". Columbia College Today. 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2022-03-08.