After 27 years at NBC News Bob Horner is retiring.
Horner created, launched and then ran the NBC News Channel, the Charlotte-based NBC affiliate news service, that provides news to more than 200 NBC affiliates. For a time, NBCNC also produced NBC’s overnight newscast.
“Bob Horner has been an institution at News Channel for 27 years,” said NBC News chairman Andy Lack. “In that time we all have been the beneficiary of his thoughtfulness, his commitment to excellence and remarkable dedication to NBC News. I’m so grateful for Bob’s partnership and wish him all the very best in his well-deserved retirement.”
“Although born with a journalist’s bones, Bob also has the DNA of an entrepreneur,” added NBC News EVP David Verdi. “News Channel’s beginnings was a warehouse in Charlotte, NC that operated with very little money; it was a start-up before there were start-ups and Crowdfunding. Nevertheless Bob led a scrappy group of believers inventing the technologies that would enable them to gather video and editorial content and distribute to over 200 affiliates, the network and international clients. His brainchild is a case study in how to create a business.”
Sharon Houston, who has been with News Channel for 26 years, has been named president. She’ll report to Verdi.
“A driving force in fostering our affiliate relationships, Sharon has an intimate knowledge of our affiliates’ needs and has helped, over years, to evolve News Channel in an extraordinarily fast paced, ever-changing environment,” said Verdi.
Horner’s last day is July 1.