Midwest Communications has announced the successor to the company’s founder and President/CEO, Duke Wright, who died on December 21.
Filling the role of President is an individual who first joined the company in 1985 by taking a sales position at WIXX in Green Bay, Wisc.
Peter Tanz has accepted the role of President, putting him in the top leadership position of the owner and operator of 81 radio stations across nine states.
Speaking for the Wright family, Midwest Communications Board Chair and Duke’s partner of 50 years, Pegge Wright, said, “Peter has worked with and learned the business of broadcasting from Duke for over 35 years. He is well respected throughout our company and is the best choice to lead Midwest to future success the way Duke wanted.”
Chief Sales Officer Jeff Wright added, “I am so proud of Peter as our new President. He clearly is the most qualified for this position and the future of Duke Wright’s Midwest Communications is in confident hands. It goes to show you that you don’t need the Wright last name to be part of the family as we have always considered Peter as one of the family.”
Another long-time company leader, Vice President of Programming Jeff McCarthy, said, “Peter and I joined Duke Wright at the same time and have been his students for nearly 4 decades. Peter has the clear vision to successfully lead our company and continue Duke Wright’s mission of providing high quality entertainment while masterfully serving the local market.”
Over the course of his 37-year tenure at Midwest Communications, Tanz has been GM of WDEZ & WRIG in the company’s home of Wausau, Wisc. From there, he would lead stations for Midwest in Nebraska, Michigan, North and South Dakota before returning to Wisconsin to serve as Midwest’s Green Bay SVP/Market Manager, in 2016.
Tanz currently serves on the NAB’s Small & Medium Market Radio committee, is a board member of the South Dakota Broadcasters Association, and is a past chair of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
With over 550 employees, Midwest Communications one of America’s largest privately held,
family operated radio broadcasting companies. Its largest markets include Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn.; and Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and Lansing, Mich.
