Lee Harris Exit from Red Apple Media Triggers Dust Storm of Mystery
The story of noted radio news executive Lee Harris‘s surprising departure (8/12) from his role as senior vice president of news and programming at Red Apple Media’s WABC, New York and its Worldwide News Network (WWNN) has left a dust storm of conflicting details and speculation in its aftermath on radio message boards, social media and industry trades.
Harris joined Red Apple Media on May 4 as VP of news for WABC and the new Worldwide News Network, which launched May 23. Six weeks later, Red Apple promoted him to SVP of news and programming, expanding his authority across WABC, WWNN and Red Apple Audio Networks. On August 12 – roughly 100 days after his hiring – company CEO / owner John Catsimatidis announced Harris’s departure. Catsimatidis stated he had requested Harris’s resignation following a dispute involving a longtime employee returning from medical leave. Red Apple later attributed the separation to differences involving “leadership style.” Harris said he had decided to return to his longtime independent business developing broadcast technology products, but neither side identified a replacement nor fully explained in detail whether Harris resigned voluntarily or was dismissed.
Seasoned radio industry veterans know that it is a common practice for the actual details of such endings of employment to remain ambiguous. It is also known that strong-minded members of a company’s staff in both talent and management can be prone to butt heads within the minefield of corporate structure.
In this story, everything beyond that remains unproven. Early forum speculation suggested political or ideological incompatibility, but no reporting supports that theory; available off-record information specifically contradicts it. The returning employee’s identity also remains unconfirmed, as does the precise sequence of resignation and dismissal. The safest conclusion is that this was an internal management conflict subsequently framed by Red Apple as a personnel-related termination and by Harris as a voluntary career change.
Red Apple Audio Networks’ recently launched Worldwide News Network (WWNN) is stepping into the weekend business and financial news space with the launch of WWNN Weekend Business Reports, a new series of reports delivering timely, insightful coverage of the markets, the economy and the companies driving growth. The reports debuted on Hubbard Broadcasting’s WTOP in Washington, DC, this past Saturday, August 1, marking the first affiliate partnership for the new service.