NAB To Welcome New Legal Officer and Consolidate

The National Association of Broadcasters will lose its Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Rick Kaplan, at the end of 2026 after more than 14 years of service, as the group consolidates its Government Relations and Legal teams under President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.

Shawn Donilon

Effective January 1, 2027, Executive Vice President of Government Relations Shawn Donilon will assume the newly created role of Chief Advocacy Officer. Donilon has been with the NAB since March 2013. The combined structure is intended to strengthen coordination of the association’s work on Capitol Hill, with the Trump Administration, and at the Federal Communications Commission, reflecting the close intersection of congressional and regulatory decisions in Washington. Kaplan and Donilon will work together to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities.

In announcing the departure, which was not labeled a retirement, the NAB credited Kaplan with a track record of high-impact successes. 

He led the association through a decade of critical court victories, including a unanimous Supreme Court win that removed outdated restrictions on broadcast ownership. He also secured a major victory for radio stations before the Copyright Royalty Board that sharply lowered streaming rates and later enabled a landmark settlement in the most recent webcasting proceeding. Kaplan additionally handled complex issues involving ATSC 3.0, retransmission consent, the FCC’s broadcast spectrum incentive auction, music licensing, sponsor identification rules, and efforts that reduced broadcasters’ regulatory fees by millions of dollars annually.

Rick Kaplan

“In an association as diverse as ours, Rick’s ability to understand member concerns, build consensus across differently situated groups and develop creative and impactful solutions will leave an indelible mark on our industry for years to come,” LeGeyt said. “His tireless advocacy — no matter how big or small the issue — has significantly benefited our members. I am deeply grateful for his 14 years of leadership, service and the talented team he has built that will ensure NAB’s success well into the future.”

Kaplan said, “It has been a tremendous privilege to serve America’s broadcasters and be part of NAB for the past 14 years. I am enormously proud of what we have accomplished together, but what I will value most are the relationships I have built and the opportunity to work alongside such extraordinarily talented and dedicated colleagues.”

The changes mark a new organizational chapter for the NAB, which represents the nation’s foremost radio and television stations.