CPB Names Kathy Merritt as Chief Operating Officer and Debra Sanchez as Executive Vice President, Government and External Affairs and Acting Corporate Secretary

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 11, 2025) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has promoted Kathy Merritt to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Debra Sanchez to Executive Vice President, Government and External Affairs and Acting Corporate Secretary.

Merritt will oversee CPB’s Operations, as well as Radio/Journalism, System Strategies, Next Generation Warning System, Community Service Grants, and Television Content departments.

Sanchez will continue to lead the Education team, as well as oversee Government and External Affairs. She is also taking on the role of Acting Secretary, overseeing the Office of the Corporate Secretary, serving as liaison between the CPB Board of Directors and staff.

“Kathy and Deb are both accomplished professionals with decades of experience in public media who are highly qualified to lead CPB during these challenging times,” said Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO.

Prior to her promotion, Merritt has been Chief, Station and System Strategies, where she oversees a portfolio of grants and initiatives that strengthen public media stations’ ability to serve their local communities and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public media system.

Sanchez has been CPB’s Senior Vice President for Educational Media and Learning Experiences, where she develops and oversees children's content investments and educational initiatives at the national level and works closely with stations to enhance their development and execution of local educational services.

Merritt and Sanchez succeed EVP and Chief Operating Officer Michael Levy and Corporate Secretary, SVP and Chief of Staff Teresa Safon. Levy and Safon will continue to serve CPB as consultants, advising Harrison and the senior leadership team.

“I want to express my deep appreciation to Michael and Teresa for their long and distinguished service to CPB and public media,” Harrison said. “Both will stay on as consultants as we address threats to our funding.”

In addition to Merritt and Sanchez, Daryl Mintz has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and Evan Slavitt has been promoted to Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

About the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit www.cpb.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and subscribe for email updates.