In March 2023, Bill Reeves departed the parent of two dominant Christian Contemporary Music non-commercial radio networks. As such, the duties of Chief Executive Officer were given to Todd Woods, an individual who had held roles at Educational Media Foundation including Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary, Head of External Affairs and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.
Now, EMF will soon have its third new CEO in six years, as Woods has resigned.
The Franklin, Tenn., based organization confirmed Woods’ decision to exit EMF in a statement distributed Thursday morning. Few details were offered, other than that Woods tendered his resignation and shared the news to staff on Wednesday (5/15). He will continue to serve in an advisory capacity through June.
Woods joined EMF in September 2022, elevating to CEO in March of 2023.
“I have enjoyed my time serving in multiple roles at EMF,” said Woods. “It’s been a privilege and I look forward to serving wherever the Lord leads me from here.”
EMF board chair Tom Stulz will serve as EMF’s interim CEO as the board begins “a comprehensive executive search.”
Stulz said, “The Board of Directors and the Ministry Leadership Team would like to thank Todd for his work, contributions and service with EMF. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Jerry Shirer will step in as interim board chair and Mark Brannon will serve as interim vice chair on the Board of Directors.
The CEO role at EMF has seen three individuals hold the position since the 2018 retirement of Mike Novak. Woods was given the chief executive title after a nearly four-year tenure as CEO for Mr. Reeves, who was hired by the then-Rocklin, Calif.-based EMF “after an extensive national search.”
Reeves in 2009 built Franklin, Tenn.-based The WTA Group “to help develop, brand and bring to market world-class products with a Christian worldview.” The WTA Group continued as a unit of EMF.
Since Novak’s retirement, EMF has cemented itself as the nation’s most-accessible non-secular music radio network parent, with Reeves overseeing the takeover of WPLJ in New York from Cumulus Media on May 31, 2019, while simultaneously adding the former WRQX “Mix 107.3” in Washington, D.C. This followed growth under Novak that saw the addition of what is today KKLQ-FM in Los Angeles, formerly “100.3 The Sound,” in November 2017.
