Jon Abbott

Abbott grew up in New York City, where his father, Forrest Abbott, was the treasurer and controller of Barnard College.[2][3] His uncle, Edward C. Melby, Jr., was the dean of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University.[4][5] He attended The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine and received his B.A. from Columbia University and M.B.A. from Stanford University.[1] He began his career in broadcasting in Columbia University's student-run radio station WKCR-FM.[1]

He joined KQED in San Francisco after graduating from Stanford, running the station's marketing and development, before moving to PBS in Washington as senior vice president of development and corporate relations.[6]

Abbot joined WGBH-TV as Vice President and General Manager in 1998 and was named President and CEO in 2007.[7] During his 15 years in the position, he oversaw the development of new channels, expanded the station's presence over digital platforms, and helped GBH raise $215 million in the largest capital campaign by a public media outlet, and increased its endowment more than eightfold to nearly $525 million.[6] He also merged GBH’s western Massachusetts TV affiliate WGBY with New England Public Radio to form the multiplatform New England Public Media.[8]

In February 2022, Abbott announced plans to step down at the end of the year.[7][8]

In 2013, Abbott was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[9] He is also a recipient of the John Jay Award from Columbia College.[10]

Abbot lives in Newton, Massachusetts with his family.[6]