Nexstar Ups Thomas Carter To President-COO

Nexstar Media Group today named Thomas E. Carter president and chief operating officer, effective Oct. 1. He will retain his current responsibilities as chief financial officer for the foreseeable future. In conjunction with his promotion, Carter has entered into a new employment agreement that extends through Dec. 31, 2023.

Carter joined Nexstar as CFO in August 2009 and, the company said, “has played a major role in the execution of the company’s growth plan through the successful completion and integration of accretive acquisitions, including Tribune Media Company and Media General, which have resulted in a significant expansion of Nexstar’s free cash flow and operating portfolio while cementing the Company’s position as the nation’s largest local television broadcaster. He has also led integration planning and post-transaction synergy realization teams as well as continuous capital structure improvements, ongoing cost of capital reduction, operational efficiency enhancements and return of capital initiatives.”

Perry A. Sook, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Nexstar Media Group, said: “Tom has been a trusted partner during his time at Nexstar and has been instrumental in driving the company’s operating and financial growth and the ongoing execution of our strategic initiatives to enhance shareholder value. During Tom’s 11-year tenure, Nexstar has grown its revenue base more than 12 times while the company’s equity valuation has risen by more than 90 times. Further, Tom has been tireless in his communications with the sell-side analysts who follow Nexstar and with our institutional investors, while leading our ongoing efforts to optimize our capital structure, reduce our cost of capital, and drive returns for shareholders.

“Along with our company’s board of directors, I am exceedingly confident that Tom will build on his 11 years of experience and success at Nexstar as he works with me to further grow our business and ensure that Nexstar creates new opportunities and value based on our ranking as the nation’s leading, diversified local media and content company. Our entire team congratulates Tom on this well-deserved promotion, and I look forward to continuing our close collaboration in the years to come.”

Carter said: “I am extremely proud of the work and progress of the Nexstar Nation and grateful for the trust that Perry and the board have placed in me as I assume these new roles at Nexstar. Working alongside Perry and the entire management team for the past 11 years has been a wonderful opportunity and we’ve collectively created a company of unmatched scale and unparalleled financial performance.

“In the last month alone, we’ve taken several actions from a capital structure and operating perspective to de-lever and create new growth opportunities. The future for Nexstar is very bright and I look forward to collaborating with the rest of the company’s executive team in our ongoing efforts to leverage Nexstar’s position as the nation’s leading local media company to create new value for shareholders.”

Prior to joining Nexstar, Carter was managing director, media telecom corporate investment banking at Banc of America Securities, which he joined in 1985. In that role he acted as the senior banker responsible for delivering bank products and services including M&A, private and public equity, high-yield debt, fixed income derivatives, syndicated financial products and treasury management for selected clients across the broadcasting, cable, publishing and media industries, including Nexstar.

He began his banking career in 1980, serving for five years in various roles in corporate and international banking at a predecessor to JPMorgan Chase.