Executive Director Bill McCarren to retire

National Press Club Executive Director Bill McCarren, who returned the Club to financial health and made a mark worldwide as a tireless advocate for press freedom, will retire later this year after more than 15 years of service, according to a press release issued Friday by the Club.

In anticipation of McCarren's retirement, the Club conducted an extensive, worldwide search for a successor. McCarren will continue his duties at the club until the new executive director is in place.

Board of Governors hired McCarren, a Club member since 1986, as general manager in July 2007 and appointed him executive director in 2010.

McCarren, who was founder and CEO of the wire service startup U.S. Newswire, led the Club to financial health. When he took the helm in 2007, the Club had no cash reserves, high debt and an unprofitable business model. Under McCarren's leadership and in concert with the Board, the Club made a profit every year from 2007 until the pandemic, and currently has low debt with significant reserves.

In addition to his operational and leadership duties, McCarren also orchestrated several high-profile press freedom campaigns, including advocating for the release of Washington Post writer Jason Rezaian, who was imprisoned for 544 in Iran, and for Austin Tice, who remains in captivity in Syria.

Michael Freedman, 2020 Club president and executive producer of The Kalb Report, praised McCarren's navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the Club’s operations.

“For all Bill has contributed to the Club's success during his long tenure, this was his finest hour as he worked tirelessly to ensure the National Press Club would survive," Freedman said. "It was a moment in time when leadership required multiple accrued skills, a creative spirit, patience, perseverance, and total commitment. Bill was the right person, in the right place, at the right time, and working so closely with him was an honor and a privilege I shall never forget."