In an internal e-mail distributed on Monday afternoon to all employees, The E.W. Scripps Co. announced “the elimination” of the Chief Operating Officer role at the owner of broadcast TV stations and digital multicast networks, effective December 31.
This will see Lisa Knutson exit at the end of 2024.
Editor’s Note: The August 12 Afternoon Headlines E-mail inadvertently contains a misspelling of Knutson’s surname. We regret the error.
The memo from Scripps President/CEO Adam Symson described in detail Knutson’s ascension to the COO role. This came at the start of 2023, when Symson asked her to take a role that combined Scripps’ businesses into one media operation, “setting us up for success today and into the future.”
Now, Symson said that “she has completed that work.” Thus, he added, “We are preparing for our next chapter by considering how our company is organized, especially as the media landscape continues to evolve and new challenges are brought to our doorstep.”
Knutson has been with Scripps since 2006, and before becoming COO served as President of Scripps Networks. Before that, Knutson was Chief Financial Officer for Scripps, a role that earned her an RBR+TVBR Broadcast Best Finance Leaders honor. It was the Scripps’ acquisition of ION Media that helped lead Knutson to take on greater roles, moving from SVP/Chief Administrative Officer to EVP/Chief Strategy Officer in fall 2020.
In the internal memo, Symson commented, “Over the past 18 years, Lisa has been a guiding voice and a steady hand in nearly every major decision Scripps has made, from the 2008 split with Scripps Networks Interactive to the expansion of our local media footprint, the acquisition of ION and the creation of a new Scripps Networks portfolio. Lisa’s tenure at Scripps exemplifies the kind of adventure through internal mobility that we champion. First joining the company in 2005 to oversee HR operations … her influence has been felt far and wide, both through her business leadership and by the way she leads, having served as mentor and coach to many across our company.”
Taking a personal tone, Symson added, “Lisa has been an invaluable partner to me in nearly every role I have held at Scripps. During the most difficult periods of my own tenure as CEO, having Lisa on our team has meant having a thought partner I could count on to candidly challenge me to look at things from different perspectives in order to be a better leader for this company. I will forever be grateful for her mentorship, counsel and friendship.”
A SEC filing reveals that Knutson is entitled to payments and benefits under the company’s severance plan. Furthermore, the Scripps Board of Directors approved a one-time benefit of $140,400 to be paid upon separation to provide for medical insurance premiums until Knutson is eligible to enroll in Medicare.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ADJUSTMENTS
With Knutson’s pending departure, several leadership team roles were tweaked, effective immediately:
Chief Financial Officer Jason Combs will oversee distribution and the enterprise strategy team in addition to financial planning and analysis, accounting, tax and treasury, corporate development, and risk and business continuity. “Jason brings financial rigor and oversight to our current largest revenue item (retransmission revenue) and to emerging business opportunities with Tablo and ATSC 3.0/datacasting,” Symson said.
Additionally, Scripps Chief Marketing Officer Keisha Taylor Starr will take on the additional role of General Manager of our networks portfolio, assuming responsibility for our programming strategy and execution. “She will lead our efforts to gain, engage and retain our audiences,” Symson added.
At the same time, SVP/Local Media Dean Littleton will expand his role to include streaming and digital as well as local and networks engineering and operations.
For Chief Administrative Officer Laura Tomlin, a new title and role as Chief Transformation Officer is taking place. Tomlin will oversee all functions focused on people, process, artificial intelligence and technology.
“This new team will help reimagine our systems and culture so we can position Scripps for longevity,” Symson said.
Lastly, Beth Welter has been named Chief of Staff, supporting Symson and reporting to Tomlin. Symson said Welter will “shepherd some of the company’s most important initiatives as well as leading strategic planning, program management and change management.”
