By Ivan Oransky, President
Not long after I became president of the AHCJ’s board of directors in October 2017, Len Bruzzese told me he wanted to start planning a next chapter in his life that included handing off executive director duties to a worthy successor. The news wasn’t a complete surprise, by any stretch. He and I had talked about the possibility for a while, and each time, we had agreed – much to my relief – that the time wasn’t quite right yet.
This time, though, he was sure. (Trust me, I checked.) And while, as I had come to expect from Bruzzese, he would give us lots of time to work through succession planning, it was clear that the main task of my presidency would be working with the board to recruit a new executive director, and work closely with that person to allow for some continuity and institutional memory. Bruzzese had been executive director since 2005, and our incredible growth on many axes – programming, membership, and finances, to name a few – speaks to his great success, and to what a challenge trying to fill those shoes would be.
By spring 2019, it had become time for Bruzzese to inform the board of his plans, which he did at our meeting in Baltimore. We quickly formed a search committee, consisting of me, past president Karl Stark, vice president Felice Freyer, board member (and now secretary) Sabriya Rice, and Mark Horvit, former executive director of IRE and a professor at the University of Missouri, where we are based. Len agreed to continue as executive director until his successor was in place.
After spreading the word about the opportunity far and wide, particularly in an attempt to attract a diverse pool of candidates, we had more than three dozen applicants for the position. We had a lot of great choices, but after months of reviewing resumes, interviewing candidates, and speaking with references, one person rose to the top of the list, and stayed there: Andrew Smiley.
Smiley had been at the Golf Channel and NBC Sports for nine years when we met him, and at ESPN for nine years before that, winning an Emmy. He had led small and large teams to success and, having been a manager at various outlets myself, his approach and experience resonated with me.
It wasn’t just Smiley’s resume that impressed us on the committee. He describes himself as “a servant leader who is constantly learning,” says Stark. “He’s already shown that he’s very organized and is quickly coming up to speed in the job. And he brings us skills in television and video production that we do not have. I am eager to see him take AHCJ to new heights.”
“During the search process, I was impressed to learn that the people who have worked for Andrew adored him,” says Freyer.
“One of his references told me that when Andrew was hired at ESPN many years ago, he was the youngest person ever to take over that position, raising hackles among those who had been passed over. But he quickly won over all his detractors. That, to me, shows true leadership.”
What stood out to Rice was Smiley’s “attention to detail and his composure.”
“Having coordinated many large events in the past, I appreciate his strategic and collaborative approach,” Rice says. “And people who worked with him before he came to AHCJ described him as someone who can manage unexpected challenges while remaining level.”
Smiley became executive director on September 1 and has hit the ground running. He pivoted our usual fall workshop to an all-virtual format, drawing well more than 170 participants and speakers to a lively and informative forum on the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s still taking stock, working with Bruzzese – who has remained with AHCJ as senior adviser – and is planning a member survey.
Says Bruzzese: “Andrew has been an impressive hire. He has great instincts, he knows how to manage – even in our currently remote setting – and he values good ideas from those around him. I think he’ll be great for the organization.”
I’ve enjoyed my weekly meetings with Smiley, and have already found his ideas and suggestions refreshing and well-informed. I know that he will help AHCJ scale even greater heights – stay tuned. Welcome, Andrew.
Ivan Oransky, M.D., is editor-in-chief of Spectrum and Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.
