Tegna names its first chief diversity officer

Grady Tripp promoted by Tysons-based broadcast and digital media company

Published September 10, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Tysons-based broadcast and digital media company Tegna Inc. announced Thursday it has promoted Grady Tripp to become the company’s first chief diversity officer.

Tripp has been with the company since 2017 on the talent acquisition team. In his new role, he will report directly to Tegna President and CEO Dave Lougee and partner with other leaders to develop and execute the company’s diversity strategy. Tripp will oversee the process of attracting, retaining and growing a diverse talent pool within the company as well as develop training programs and a company diversity and inclusion working group.

“Tegna is proud of our diverse and inclusive culture, but we recognize we must be even more deliberate to ensure that our stations, newsrooms and people are a true reflection of the communities we serve,” Lougee said in a statement. “Grady is a respected and trusted leader at Tegna, and his extensive experience as a change agent makes him a natural fit to develop and drive our efforts to make meaningful change.”

Tripp earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and his master’s degree in business administration from Florida A&M University.

Once part of McLean-based Gannett Co. Inc. (the nation’s largest newspaper publisher), Tegna owns 62 television stations and four radio stations in 51 markets and its programming reaches 41.7 million television households.