New Tegna CEO makes first executive staffing announcement following exits

Tegna has named Kurt Rao executive vice president and chief technology and digital products officer.

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In this newly-created role, Rao will be responsible for planning and executing projects and initiatives across Tegna’s digital products and platforms. He will also be closely involved in working with teams in product management, technology, engineering and operations as well as the company’s local newsrooms.

“As audience behaviors continue to evolve, innovation must be at the center of everything we do,” said Patrick Paolini, the CEO of Tegna, in a statement. “Uniting our technology, digital, and product organizations creates a stronger, more agile TEGNA – one that can move faster, serve consumers more effectively, and position our company for long term growth in an increasingly competitive media landscape.”

Rao’s time at Tegna dates back to 2018 as senior vice president and chief technology officer.

His work has included the development and rollout of proprietary AI tools, along with next-generation technology initiatives tied to content, media distribution and advertising insights. He has also overseen Tegna’s broadcast operations and information technology functions.

“I’m excited to take on this new role,” said Rao. “New capabilities and technologies are redefining how we deliver local news. By bringing our broadcast, digital, and product teams together, we can adopt these tools quickly and at scale to create better, more engaging experiences for our viewers and advertisers across every platform.”

Rao is the first officer named to Tegna’s executive leadership team reporting to CEO Patrick Paolini. 

Paolini took over Tegna in late May 2026 after a series of C-suite exits.

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