Hearst Television Ups Kenneth Murphy To VP, Information Technology

Kenneth Murphy

Kenneth Murphy, a Hearst technology executive for more than two decades who most recently has served as Hearst’s executive director, network architecture and engineering, has been named vice president of information technology for Hearst Television.

The promotion, effective July 31, was announced today by Michael J. Hayes, president of Hearst Television, and Stefan Hadl, Hearst Television’s SVP, broadcast engineering and technology.

“Ken has a history of Hearst success and will bring that knowledge with him in this move to Hearst Television,” Hayes said. “His experience in security, systems and integration is additive to our technology strategy today and fortifies it for the future.”

“Ken will be responsible for helping lead all of Hearst Television’s technological initiatives,” Hadl said. “A primary focus is on IT security; he will also lead the planning, design and implementation of our next-generation IT networking infrastructure to support all operations relative to connectivity, storage, data, and video transport and distribution. And he will help lead our strategic planning and deployment of cloud resources and technology with the objective of making our operations more efficient and nimble.”

Murphy has risen rapidly through the ranks in Hearst’s technology operations, moving from network engineer in 2005 to manager, network engineering; associate director, network engineering and director, networking before assuming his most recent role.

Among many other accomplishments, as executive director, network architecture and engineering,  he has led an initiative to standardize Hearst’s network security, achieving a first-ever companywide unification of network security platforms; directed the research, development, and implementation of a modern SD-WAN platform, transforming Hearst’s network data capabilities while helping enable new business connectivity opportunities; led an initiative to identify and isolate business critical at-risk networks to better prepare for attacks and threats; and developed and managed a team of network engineers responsible for implementing enterprise-wide IT infrastructure.

Murphy holds a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in information systems, with concentration in internetworking technologies, from Strayer University in Charlotte, N.C., and has participated in a Hearst Technical Leadership Program administered by Cornell University as well as a Hearst Leadership Development Program administered by Harvard Business Publishing.

Among numerous honors, he was an inaugural recipient of Hearst’s Neil McManus Award in recognition of customer service, dedication, professional excellence and team leadership, as well as United States Air Force medals for good conduct, outstanding service and meritorious service.