The world’s largest news wire service will be lead for the first time by a woman and person of color in its 175 year history, the company has announced.
The Associated Press is used in nearly every major news room in the United States. Beginning on January 1, Sri Lankan Daisy Veerasingham will move up from her current position as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer to President and Chief Executive Officer.
She will replace Gary Pruitt who plans to step down at the end of the year after being in the position for ten years.
“There is no better person to lead AP into its next chapter than Daisy, with whom I’ve worked closely over the past decade. With her experience, judgment and values, Daisy will be a terrific leader of the AP,” Pruitt said in a statement.
According to The Quint, she has been with the AP since 2004 when she joined the sales department for TV news in London. The British National is credited with transforming AP’s video business as well as growing the company’s business and diversifying its revenue.
She previously worked for The Financial Times and the Lexis Nexis Group.
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