Nashville Public Radio has announced the appointment of Holly Kernan as its next President and CEO.

Kernan joins the organization, which operates Public News/Talk 90.3 WPLN-FM and AAA 91.1 WNXP, from KQED San Francisco where she was Chief Content Officer overseeing its local news, radio, TV, podcasts, digital video and programming. She will succeed Steve Swenson, who announced his intent to retire earlier this year.

Kernan has served as Chief Content Officer of KQED since October 2018 after previously being VP/News from 2014-18. She also spent ten years as News Director of KALW San Francisco from 2004 to 2014. She commented, “I’m thrilled to help shepherd this next phase of community service and to embrace my new home in Nashville.”

Nashville Public Radio Board Chairman Neil Thorne said, “It is a reflection on the strength and growth of WPLN that we can attract someone with Kernan’s impressive media background from KQED, one of the most respected organizations within the public media industry. She brings a wealth of experience in leading teams.”