NPR CEO Vivian Schiller Resigns

Katie Pavlich | March 09, 2011 9:40 AM

NPR CEO Vivian Schiller, the woman at the forefront of the Juan Williams firing, has resigned after an undercover video surfaced showing NPR Executive Ron Schiller calling tea party members "racist, racist people," saying American needs more elite, educated people. (There is no family relation between Vivian Schiller and Ron Schiller)

NPR Board of Directors Chairman Dave Edwards accepted Schiller's resignation this morning:

"It is with deep regret that I tell you that the NPR Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Vivian Schiller as President and CEO of NPR, effective immediately.

"The Board accepted her resignation with understanding, genuine regret, and great respect for her leadership of NPR these past two years.

"Vivian brought vision and energy to this organization. She led NPR back from the enormous economic challenges of the previous two years. She was passionately committed to NPR's mission, and to stations and NPR working collaboratively as a local-national news network.

"According to a CEO succession plan adopted by the Board in 2009, Joyce Slocum, SVP of Legal Affairs and General Counsel, has been appointed to the position of Interim CEO. The Board will immediately establish an Executive Transition Committee that will develop a timeframe and process for the recruitment and selection of new leadership.

"I recognize the magnitude of this news – and that it comes on top of what has been a traumatic period for NPR and the larger public radio community. The Board is committed to supporting NPR through this interim period and has confidence in NPR's leadership team."