TEGNA has promoted Kurt Rao to the newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Digital Products Officer, expanding his responsibilities as the broadcaster continues to integrate its technology, product and digital operations.
The appointment was announced Thursday by TEGNA Chief Executive Officer Patrick Paolini.
In his new role, Rao will oversee the company’s digital product strategy and technology platforms, bringing together product management, engineering, technology and operations teams responsible for delivering content across broadcast, streaming, mobile and digital channels.
“As audience behaviors continue to evolve, innovation must be at the center of everything we do,” Paolini said in a statement. “Uniting our technology, digital, and product organizations creates a stronger, more agile TEGNA — one that can move faster, serve consumers more effectively, and position our company for long-term growth in an increasingly competitive media landscape.”
Rao joined TEGNA in 2018 as the company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. During his tenure, he has led the company’s broader digital transformation efforts, overseeing technology strategy, broadcast operations and information technology. His responsibilities have included the development of technology platforms supporting content distribution, advertising insights and newsroom operations, as well as the implementation of proprietary artificial intelligence tools across the company.
“I’m excited to take on this new role,” Rao said on Tuesday. “New capabilities and technologies are redefining how we deliver local news. By bringing our broadcast, digital, and product teams together, we can adopt these tools quickly and at scale to create better, more engaging experiences for our viewers and advertisers across every platform.”
TEGNA operates 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets and has increasingly focused on expanding its digital and streaming footprint while developing new advertising and audience engagement tools. The company is operated as a subsidiary business of Nexstar Media Group.
