Miles to Leave WQED

WQED Multimedia President and CEO George L. Miles says he will retire in a year. He informed his board of his plans last night. His last day will be September 30, 2010. Miles says he has “climbed a lot of mountains” in the last 15 years and he has just one more to climb. Miles says he has no specific plans in retirement but he says he will remain active in the community as he continues to serve on boards and explore teaching and writing opportunities. The 67-year-old says he feels he is leaving the operation in good hands with the best staff he has ever had and a new strategic plan in place. He says his replacement will have to tackle two main issues; creating content and paying for that content. He says part of the content creation arm is finding ways to distribute that content in the new digital world. He says the new distribution model will also lead to new funding methods. Shortly before Miles made his announcement the board promoted Deborah L. Acklin from her current position of Executive Vice President and General Manager to the new position of Chief Operating Officer. She will be added to the Board of Directors later this year.