Stephen Capus

Stephen Capus has served as RFE/RL’s President since January 1, 2024. Prior to his appointment, Capus offered strategic and managerial consultation to the President of RFE/RL and advised senior management on a number of projects related to the 24/7 Russian-language digital network Current Time, as well as the new Russian language multi-platform content offering Votvot.

In 2019 and 2020, he was the Senior Advisor to the CEO of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), making frequent visits to each of the networks overseen by USAGM. Capus led investigations of alleged editorial lapses; helped guide editorial reform measures; and represented USAGM during numerous meetings with Congressional committees and offices.

During a 20-year career with NBC that included a nearly 8-year tenure as President of NBC News, Capus directed overall editorial and management operations, had oversight of global news coverage, served on NBC’s corporate management committees under the ownership of General Electric and Comcast, and oversaw MSNBC cable/digital, serving on the MSNBC joint venture board with Microsoft. Capus has also been the executive producer of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, MSNBC’s The News with Brian Williams, and countless NBC News special reports.

From 2014 to 2018, Capus was the executive editor of CBS News and the executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. Prior to joining CBS News, Capus was an Executive in Residence at IESE Business School; earlier in his career, he worked at television, radio, and print outlets in the Philadelphia area.

Capus and his production teams have been the recipients of many distinguished honors, such as the Edward R. Murrow Award, Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award, several Emmy Awards, a George Polk Award and a Peabody. Capus was also bestowed the prestigious Ida B. Wells Award in 2007 by the National Association of Black Journalists.

Capus graduated from Temple University in 1986 and serves on the Board of Visitors of Temple’s Klein School of Communications. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Capus was appointed to serve as a Member of the RFE/RL Board of Directors on December 8, 2023, effective January 1, 2024.