WWOZ has hired a new general manager, according to a press release. Beth Arroyo Utterback, 35-year public media veteran, most recently the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of local PBS affiliate WYES, will become WWOZ’s General Manager at the historic radio station, starting June 1.

“She will be a ‘Guardian of the Groove’ in the truest possible way” said Deborah Harkins, President of WWOZ’s board, of Utterback who will leave her position as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at WYES-TV (PBS).

Utterback comes in with a programming background that includes a number of series featuring New Orleans musical players such as the Marsalis family, Louis Armstrong, Preservation Hall, and Chefs Paul Prudhomme and John Besh. She has also managed community partnerships with the National WWII Museum, the Ashé Cultural Arts Center among others.

Beth Arroyo Utterback

She will be replacing Arthur Cohen, the station’s current COO, who has been serving as interim general manager since the April 2016, when David Freedman departed the station following a controversial public letter penned by the employees and the departure of program director Dwayne Breashears

According to acting chair of WWOZ hiring committee Judge Sidney Cates, Utterback holds family roots in the city, and will be “held in high regard” by  musicians, the likes of Irma Thomas, Deacon John, Leah Chase Kamata, James Andrews, Charmaine Neville and James Rivers.

Utterback officially stated she was “thrilled to be entrusted with this incredible opportunity to lead WWOZ as we expand our mission to be the worldwide voice, archive, and flag-bearer of New Orleans culture and musical heritage.”