As 2022 began, so did a new era for the NAB, as Curtis LeGeyt assumed the title of President/CEO from former U.S. Senator Gordon Smith.
With the 2024 NAB Show now concluded, the association has decided to extend LeGeyt’s tenure at the top for five more years.
As announced Tuesday by NAB Joint Board Chair Perry Sook, the Chairman/CEO and founder of Nexstar Media Group, LeGeyt agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the broadcast media industry’s chief advocacy group through 2029.
LeGeyt formerly served as EVP/Government Relations and its Chief Operations Officer. He first joined the NAB in 2011 as SVP/Government Relations. He holds a Juris Doctor in Law from Cornell Law School and a B.A. in Economics from Providence College.
“NAB and its members are thrilled to have Curtis LeGeyt leading our advocacy efforts in Washington and delighted about his contract extension,” said Sook. “Curtis has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic thinking and an unwavering dedication to the future of broadcasting, ensuring NAB remains at the forefront of innovation. We are confident in his ability to drive continued success for NAB and its members.”
LeGeyt commented, “I am deeply honored to be entrusted with the leadership of NAB. Representing the broadcast television and radio stations that unite our communities during this transformative period in media is a privilege. The growing importance of our stations in delivering news and information Americans can trust drives my commitment to this vital industry. I am grateful for the faith placed in me by the NAB Board of Directors and our members, and I am committed to an innovation agenda that allows local TV and radio to thrive well into the future for the betterment of our communities.”
During LeGeyt’s tenure, the NAB has advocated for policies designed to level the playing field with big tech, and has championed the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act awaiting a vote in Congress. He’s also been vocal in support of the Local Radio Freedom Act non-binding resolution preventing new radio performance fees from getting Congressional approval.
While the NAB Show attendance in 2024 was slightly lower than what the association estimated the total would be prior to the start of last week’s event, the association says that “strong revenue” from the NAB Show and its marquee events, combined with support from association members, has contributed to NAB’s fiscal health and long-term security.
