Vermont Public Television President and CEO John King is leaving the station, VPT announced today in a press release.
The VPT board named Charlie Smith interim president and CEO, effective immediately. Smith’s experience comes largely from commercial banking, though he has also served in high levels of state government, according to the VPT release.
The move comes after what Seven Days reported as an internal dispute between King and VPT’s board chairwoman Pam Mackenzie.
In its statement, VPT did not specify why King was leaving or whether he was fired or resigned.
Pam Mackenzie, VPT’s Board Chair, stated: “VPT is very grateful for John King’s many years of service to VPT and the public television industry. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”
The announcement came as VPT deals with the fallout of an anonymous complaint filed late last year that its board violated open meeting rules; an internal audit found that rules were violated. Seven Days reports the closed meetings were held to discuss King's tenure at VPT. The violation put VPT’s federal funding at risk but the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides the funding, ultimately ruled to continue to fund the station.
