KCUR picks new G.M.

Nico Leone. Photo courtesy KCUR.

KCUR-FM, Kansas City's flagship NPR station, announced today that Nico Leone would succeed veteran general manager Patricia Cahill starting on Aug. 1.

Cahill, who has run the station since 1987, initially reported her intent to retire on Sep. 22, 2011.

Leone comes from St. Louis' KDHX, a not-for-profit community station, where he was co-executive director. After a nationwide search process, Leone was selected by a ten-member search committee that included representatives from KCUR staff, the community advisory board, the NPR board, donors and volunteers.

David Warm, chair of the search committee, said that, “Nico is exactly what we need to extend the excellence of KCUR into the future...Patty Cahill is leaving some big shoes to fill, and Nico will come as close as anyone can to matching her legacy.”