US public media giant Public Service Broadcasting (PBS) has formally named Jill Patrone as its next chief legal officer, replacing Katherine Lauderdale, who is to become a special adviser to the CEO.
Patrone had been serving as acting CLO since March last year. She will continue to oversee all legal matters, including IP, business affairs, litigation, regulatory, employment, corporate transactions and broader governance and board affairs.
Arlington, Virginia-based PBS is a non-profit media organisation with more than 330 member TV stations providing children’s education programming, documentaries, non-commercial news programmes and cultural output across music, theatre, dance and art.
Earlier this year, a judge blocked US President Donald Trump’s executive order issued in May last year to end federal funding for PBS and National Public Radio, which he had accused of being ‘biased media’.
Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, said: “There has never been a more critical time for PBS to have strong, experienced legal counsel. Jill has been a trusted partner across every aspect of PBS for 26 years. She knows our system, she knows our mission, and she knows what’s at stake.”
Patrone originally joined PBS in 2000 as an assistant general counsel, later becoming managing corporate counsel and then deputy GC in 2019, stepping in as acting CLO just over a year ago. She previously worked at FindLaw, having started her career in private practice at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.
She said: “It’s an extraordinary honour to step into this role at PBS. I am especially grateful to Katherine Lauderdale, whose leadership, integrity and commitment over more than two decades helped shape both the legal department and PBS itself. I look forward to working with my PBS colleagues as we continue advancing our mission in a rapidly evolving environment.”
Lauderdale has led the PBS legal department since 2002 and was made CLO in 2016. She will become CLO emerita and will continue to advise Kerger in a specialist role.
Kerger said she is “deeply grateful to Katherine Lauderdale, whose extraordinary stewardship for more than two decades helped build the excellent foundation PBS stands on today”.
Earlier this month, US pay TV and streaming platform STARZ hired Disney’s deputy GC Jim Kapenstein as its chief legal and strategy officer.
And in May, US local TV station-owner Nexstar reappointed Elizabeth Ryder as GC, replacing Rachel Morgan, who had taken over from Ryder in the role in 2022.
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