Media: DEB McDERMOTT
CEO, TEGNA INC., TYSONS/NASHVILLE
Published
In February, Tegna was bought by New York hedge fund Standard General for $5.4 billion, ending its seven-year stint as a publicly traded company formed after Gannett Co. Inc. spun off its broadcast and digital media divisions. Tegna now owns 61 television stations in 50 U.S. markets.
It also has a new leader. McDermott replaced former Tegna CEO Dave Lougee after the sale.
McDermott has more than two decades of experience leading media companies, including through acquisitions and mergers. She was most recently CEO of Standard Media, and also was chief operating officer of Media General Inc. and president and CEO of Young Broadcasting LLC.
“I am honored to lead Tegna’s team to create new opportunities and build on its heritage of successes achieved under Dave’s leadership,” McDermott says. “I’m very excited about what the future holds.”
McDermott previously served as chair of the National Association of Television Program Executives and the ABC Affiliate Board of Governors. She is also a past chair of the United Way campaign for the United Way of Greater Nashville and a past president of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
