Kitchin Departs as The Blaze CEO. In a company-wide email,
Kraig Kitchin describes the reason for his exit as chief executive officer of
Glenn Beck's
The Blaze is owing to outside business obligations. He writes, "The Blaze deserves and needs an exclusively focused leader. That is something I cannot provide, given existing commitments I choose to honor." The co-founder and former chief operating officer of
Premiere Radio Networks says he is not leaving The Blaze. "I will stay, working every day as the interim head of sales with a focus on finding the right person for that position, assisting in the transition, on advertiser growth, program development, and
industry relations." In a separate email, Beck remarks, "I know much of what has happened since December 2014 has been structural and behind the curtain. We were a company swimming in debt. With the hard work of Kraig, [Beck advisor and president of Beck's
Mercury Radio Arts]
Jonathan Schreiber, and now [chief financial officer
Misty Kawecki], we will be debt-free by summer. This is miraculous and takes all of the downward pressure off of us." Kitchin's replacement, digital startup entrepreneur
Stewart Padveen, joined Beck's company last summer; he will be the fourth leader of The Blaze since late-2014. Kitchin took over operations of Beck's subscription digital and cable television operation last June. Also stepping down, according to
The Daily Beast, are director of advertising sales
Jeremy Price, and director of marketing
Liz Julis.
