Hawai?i Public Radio’s Michael Titterton announced today his plan to bring to a conclusion his role as the station’s president and general manager on June 30, 2016.
Dr. Tyrie Jenkins, chair of HPR’s Board of Directors, said, “Replacing Michael will be one of the biggest challenges that HPR has faced. He has brought vibrancy to this organization and positioned it for future success. Always the sophisticated, clever voice of HPR, he has put Hawai?i on the map of public radio stations nationwide. We will miss his day-to-day presence, but are sure his vision will remain intrinsic to HPR.”
Titterton wrote in a message to HPR members, “HPR has been a large part of my life for over a decade and a half now, and will be a part of me always. These years have been high among the most rewarding of my life. While I have no immediate professional plans following my departure, I feel strongly that it is time for me to move on. I do so with optimism and a great deal of gratitude to the many people who have helped with the growth and maturation of HPR into an important resource to this wonderful community.”
London-born Titterton came to Hawai?i by way of North Carolina to become HPR’s president and general manager in January 1999. At that time, HPR had four transmitters, an annual operating budget of $1.6 million, and a membership of 7,000 contributing approximately 43% of revenues. Today, HPR boasts 13 frequencies across all of the major Hawaiian islands, a budget of $4.8 million, and 13,000 members, whose donations account for roughly 65% of total revenues.
“Michael's service as HPR president and general manager has been nothing short of extraordinary,” relates former HPR Board member Judge Richard R. Clifton. “HPR was cash strapped when he arrived, having suffered from several annual deficits during the difficult 1990's, and it is now nationally recognized among nonprofit organizations for its financial responsibility. We had aspirations of statewide delivery of two program streams, and he led us down a long and winding path to achieve that goal. He cultivated a staff of outstanding talents and put great emphasis on HPR's local programming and identity. It would be fair to say that his performance exceeded not only our expectations but also our dreams. He will be a tough act to follow, but he has put HPR in a good position for his successor to serve our community for years to come.”
A national search is being conducted for Titterton’s successor by Livingston Associates, a Baltimore-based firm specializing in executive searches for public media organizations.
