This post was originally published on this site
Today, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced the appointment of Maribel Perez Wadsworth as president and CEO. As the former president of Gannett Media and publisher of USA Today, Wadsworth brings nearly three decades of experience to this role, along with a steadfast belief in journalistic excellence as a pillar of a vibrant democracy. A Miami native, she makes history as Knight’s seventh president and the first woman to lead the foundation. Selected following a comprehensive, nation-wide search, her tenure is set to begin in January 2024.
Wadsworth succeeds Alberto Ibargüen, who on March 24, 2023 publicly announced his decision to retire from Knight Foundation. Ibargüen, the former publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, led the multibillion-dollar foundation for nearly two decades and oversaw the disbursement of $2.3 billion.
“Maribel’s passion for journalism, coupled with her staunch belief that arts and culture play a pivotal role in nurturing well-informed and actively engaged communities, aligns directly with our core values. We are thrilled to welcome her as the new president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation,” said Frank Borges, chair of the board of trustees.“We firmly believe that her wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to these values will steer us in fulfilling our mission.”
Knight, the nation’s leading philanthropic supporter of journalism, has invested over $632 million since 2005 in America’s media ecosystem and recently committed $150 million to the Press Forward campaign, which aims to raise one billion dollars for the growth and