CPR’s longtime president to retire next year
Wycisk rose from music announcer to CEO
BY PETER JONES
NEWS EDITOR
Max Wycisk, longtime president of Centennial-based nonprofit Colorado Public Radio, announced last week that he will retire on June 30, 2018.
Wycisk’s career at CPR has spanned more than four decades, first as an on-air announcer and then program director before becoming general manager and finally president in 1978.
He has been credited for transforming CPR from a single-signal radio station into today’s statewide network, which includes three distinct services—CPR News, CPR Classical and OpenAir, which are broadcast on 34 signals in total across the state.
“While the world has undoubtedly changed over the past 40 years, CPR’s mission has remained steadfast and our importance has grown,” Wycisk said in a statement. “The organization is stronger than it’s ever been, a testament to our dedicated staff, the donors who support us and the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on us each and every day. It’s been an honor to lead the development of a vital community resource that’s uniquely positioned to have an even greater future ahead.”
Notable highlights of Wycisk’s leadership include leading the separation from the University of Denver, transforming CPR from a dual news and classical format into separate full-time news and full-time classical on two separate signals, and eventually adding a third service dedicated to new and independent rock music.
Wycisk’s also served on the board of National Public Radio twice and received the William Kling Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Public Radio International.
“On behalf of the CPR board of directors, we thank Max for his service and for the many notable accomplishments achieved during his tenure,” Dean Salter, chair of CPR’s board said in a statement. “Max is recognized as a pioneer in public broadcasting and his vision set CPR on the path to its current success.”
CPR has retained executive recruiter Blinkhorn to find Wycisk’s replacement.
