AccuWeather has named Steven R. Smith as its new CEO, the State College-based global weather forecasting company announced on Wednesday.
Smith, who most recently served as the company’s president, succeeds founder Joel N. Myers in the role of top executive. Myers, who founded AccuWeather as a Penn State meteorology graduate student in 1962, will become executive chairman, which the company described as “a new strategic leadership role.”
The transition has been two years in the making as “part of a calculated succession plan,” according to a news release. Myers “will focus more on high-level strategy, new product development, innovation and business development” while Smith oversees business operations and focuses on growth opportunities.
“Steve and I have been working in lockstep on this succession plan to ensure a smooth and effective transition,” Myers said in a statement. “Now that the time has come, it is with great pleasure that I make his appointment official,” Myers said in a statement. “Steve has been by my side leading the growth and transformation of AccuWeather for over 25 years, and I am proud to say that the student has become the master. He has been instrumental in our success, and this new appointment reflects my full confidence in his leadership of this great company I founded over 60 years ago.”
Smith started with AccuWeather as a forecasting intern in 1997, and after earning a meteorology degree from Penn State in 1999 became a staff meteorologist working with media and commercial clients. With an interest in technology, research and product development, he later helped lay the foundation for AccuWeather’s data business as data acquisition manager. Smith joined the executive team as chief information officer in 2007 and in 2013 was promoted to chief digital officer, a position in which he oversaw digital consumer business, including the growth of AccuWeather mobile.
After being promoted to president for digital in 2015, Smith oversaw AccuWeather’s acquisition of air quality technology company Plume Labs, growth of the AccuWeather TV Network and the launch of the AccuWeather NOW OTT streaming service.
AccuWeather’s mission “requires a unique purpose, dedication, continuous innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship,” qualities Smith possesses, Myers said.
“Carrying the mantel of such an authentic brand as AccuWeather is an awesome responsibility, and one that I embrace wholeheartedly,” Smith said. “I am fortunate that I will continue to have Joel and the rest of our visionary leadership team by my side as we build upon our legacy of superior accuracy and write this exciting next chapter in AccuWeather’s history together. I look forward to collaborating with our extraordinary team of meteorologists and content, data, and digital experts to continue to break new ground in technology and AI to bring the very best weather insights to the public, our partners, and our clients across all AccuWeather platforms.”
Succession planning has been an important priority for AccuWeather’s Board of Directors, according to Robert Friedman, and independent director on the board and CEO of Bungalow Media + Entertainment.
“Steve has the full support of, and ultimate respect from, the entire board,” Friedman said. “This leadership evolution demonstrates our commitment to ensuring AccuWeather’s next 60 years are as successful and as impactful as its first six decades.”