New Role For NAB’s Marcellus Alexander

NAB today said that Marcellus Alexander, the organization’s EVP, NAB Television, will relinquish his day-to-day role as head of the NAB Television Department on Dec. 31 while remaining president of the NAB Education Foundation.

Alexander has also been retained to serve as senior adviser to the NAB Television Department and TV Board through the end of 2018, according to NAB President-CEO Gordon Smith.

“For 14 years, NAB and television broadcasters across America have benefited from Marcellus’s wise counsel and gracious leadership style,” said Smith. “We are delighted that Marcellus will continue to serve full-time as NABEF President and part-time as a consultant to NAB Television.”

“It has been an honor and privilege to work under Gordon’s leadership, with an engaged board, a motivated staff and talented colleagues,” said Alexander. “I look forward to continuing to help advance our rapidly evolving industry in my new role. Our work at NAB and NABEF is as important as ever, as we embrace innovation and welcome the future.

“From my family perspective, having a bit more time to enjoy my awesome grandchildren will be a delight!”

“Marcellus Alexander is a class act,” said NAB Education Foundation Board Chairman Larry Patrick. “While we are sad to see him leaving his day-to-day duties at NAB Television, the good news is that NABEF will continue to benefit from his energy, his ideas and his vision.”

Alexander was named executive vice president, Television for the National Association of Broadcasters in October 2002. On April 1, 2004, he was named president of the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation. In his television role, his responsibilities include ensuring NAB members are kept apprised of all policy and regulatory issues that impact television broadcasters, as well as how grassroots activism can help protect their business interests. He also oversees the Small Market Television Group Roundtable and Exchange, Strategic Sales Solutions (S3) webcasts and key events and sessions at the NAB Show.

As president of NABEF, his focus is on delivering its mission of providing broadcast training programs that help recruit and strengthen our industry’s human capital, as well as initiatives in support of the First Amendment, community service and philanthropy. The Foundation’s annual Celebration of Service to America event has grown into an anticipated Washington, DC tradition that includes Members of Congress, FCC Commissioners and industry leaders among others.

Prior to joining NAB, Alexander was station manager and acting general manager of KYW-TV Philadelphia from 1987 to1989, and VP-GM in 1999-2002.

Before rejoining KYW, Alexander was VP-GM of WJZ-TV Baltimore.

Earlier in his career, he spent 10 years in radio at the then-ABC owned and operated station WRIF-FM Detroit, rising through the ranks to become vice president and general manager. In 1986, Marcellus helped organize an investor group that purchased WRIF from CapCities/ABC. He then operated the station as part-owner and GM.

A native of Austin, Texas, Alexander holds a B.S. degree in speech and journalism from Texas State University. In 1994, his alma mater presented him with its Distinguished Alumni Award. The following year, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Western Maryland College in recognition of his community service.