Tanya Vea to take reins at Bonneville International as Brown retires

Bonneville International, the for-profit broadcast arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has announced the retirement of its top executive, Darrell Brown, who will step down as the company’s president and retire on Aug. 1. Tanya Vea, currently the executive vice president of Bonneville, will become president and chief operating officer on that date.

Brown has served as Bonneville’s president since February 2013, overseeing Salt Lake City NBC affiliate KSL-TV (Channel 5) and radio stations in Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Seattle and other markets.

“I’ve loved my time at Bonneville, and it’s not easy to leave, but it’s the right time for me and my family,” Brown said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had to associate with so many wonderful employees as we’ve worked together to further Bonneville’s mission to be a positive influence on the communities we serve. We’ve grown as a company in our reach and impact, and I know that Tanya will take Bonneville to the next level. I’m thrilled for the future of the company under her leadership.”

“Darrell has been an incredible mentor, and I’m so grateful for all that he’s done for Bonneville,” said Vea. “He has led by example as a steward of the company and its resources. I will miss working with him, and I feel incredibly fortunate to take on this role knowing that he has put the company in a position of strength.”

Vea began with Bonneville in 2010 as vice president of program development. She was later promoted to senior vice president and general manager, overseeing the Salt Lake City market, comprised of radio, digital and TV platforms. In its release, Bonneville said Vea has embraced emerging technologies and developed new distribution opportunities, including an over-the-top streaming app for KSL-TV; a company-wide expansion of digital sports offerings; and the KSL Podcast division, which has over 85 million downloads and a podcast distribution deal with Amazon Music. Additionally, she has spearheaded several key deals, including an exclusive streaming agreement with MLS team Real Salt Lake. Most recently, Vea was promoted to executive vice president of content and media operations, overseeing content strategy for all Bonneville markets, while continuing to oversee all operations for Salt Lake City.

Vea also currently serves on the NBC Affiliate Board and on its executive committee. Her volunteer work has included positions with the United Way of Salt Lake City and the Utah Governor’s Taskforce on Suicide Prevention. Prior to her time with Bonneville, Vea worked in advertising and public relations and in various news management positions, including news director for KUTV, which was a CBS owned and operated station at the time.

“Bonneville is a special company,” said Vea. “I’m committed to building on the foundation of those who have come before me and am focused on fulfilling our mission to be trusted voices in our communities. Our greatest strength is our team of talented people, and I am honored to be able to work with them to grow Bonneville for the future.”

Brown began his tenure as president of Bonneville in December of 2013. He led the company through multiple deals and acquisitions, including four stations in Denver, four in Sacramento, four in San Francisco and the KSL Sports Zone in Salt Lake City. Under his direction, Bonneville has maintained the stability of its core broadcast operations while investing in and expanding upon its digital content and advertising capabilities.

Prior to his time at Bonneville, Brown was president of McGraw-Hill Broadcasting Co. His career with McGraw-Hill spanned 28 years where he served in various sales and management roles for ABC and Azteca America television stations, including vice president and general manager roles in San Diego and Denver. During that time Brown also served on the ABC Affiliate Board, including a term as board chairman.

Brown currently serves as board chair for the NAB Leadership Foundation, having previously served on the NAB board of directors. Brown's support for community organizations includes serving on the boards of Primary Children’s Hospital and the Utah Anti-Bullying Coalition.