Former Springfield TV GM grabs state post

The Missouri Broadcasters Association has named former KOLR 10 and KOZL-TV General Manager Mark Gordon as its president and CEO.

The Oct. 31 announcement comes after a nationwide search following the June retirement of longtime President and CEO Don Hicks, who will continue with the association through 2013, according to a news release.

“Following Don Hicks, I will have big shoes to fill,” Gordon said in the release. “I am pleased and grateful that the board has seen fit to choose me to lead this great organization.”

Gordon is expected to begin his duties Jan. 1.

Gordon resigned from Springfield TV stations KOLR 10 and KOZL-TV unexpectedly in late May, according to Springfield Business Journal archives. Brian Jones, executive vice president and co-chief operations officer for Dallas-based Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc., which manages the stations, declined to comment at the time on Gordon’s departure, citing Nexstar’s personnel policy. Nexstar named Leo Henning to the position in August.

Gordon is a former Missouri Broadcasters Association board member, a former Fox affiliate board of governors member, and a past president of Springfield's Boys and Girls Clubs Board of Directors. Gordon and his wife Lucy will relocate to the Jefferson City/Columbia area for the position.

“We’re very fortunate to have a person of Mark’s abilities, work ethic and industry knowledge to take over the leadership of the MBA,” Hicks said of his successor. “We’ve worked hard during the past 18 years to build an excellent organization that is centered on service to our members.

"Mark will ensure that the MBA continues to grow the level of support provided to Missouri’s broadcasters to meet the many challenges confronting our industry.”

The Jefferson City-based organization represents 257 radio stations and 57 television stations across the state.