Three months after joining Red Apple Media to launch the Worldwide News Network, Lee Harris has exited the company.
Harris joined Red Apple in May as VP/News for the network and 770 WABC New York and was promoted to Senior Vice President of News & Programming in mid-June.
In a memo to staff Red Apple owner John Catsimatidis said, “WABC wants everyone to know that we are a team, and we are a family. We care about our people. Lee Harris has resigned this afternoon. After coming back from medical leave, WABC defended a longtime employee that was not being given the opportunity to succeed. WABC could not stand by and watch while the wellbeing and what was just for our employee, went by the wayside. As many of you know I defend our employees in all our companies. To not give a longtime employee, who came back from medical leave, a chance to succeed without even having met them, was outrageous and disheartening. As Chad Lopez always says, WABC is all about giving opportunities to our staff and we support our team and our family. We are family; we all work together for success.”
Harris shared his own statement, “I had a fantastic time working for John Catsimatidis getting the Worldwide News Network up and running. He’s a brilliant entrepreneur who sees opportunity where others don’t. I’ve decided to go back to work on my suite of tech products for audio and news because, like John, I am devoted to the success of this industry.”
Harris is best known for his thirty year run anchoring mornings at 1010 WINS New York from 1993 to 2023. The 2024 inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame most recently was Director of Integrated Operations and New York Bureau Chief for Nexstar’s NewsNation and 720 WGN Chicago. He also serves as CEO of studio tech company RadioRedact.
