ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The parent company of Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media has chosen a longtime MPR executive as the second CEO in the organization’s 44-year history.

American Public Media Group said Wednesday its board unanimously chose Jon McTaggart to succeed MPR founder Bill Kling.

McTaggart, who’s 50, is currently APMG’s senior vice president and chief operating officer. He succeeds Kling on July 1.

Kling announced last year he would step down as head of the vast public radio network he began with a single station in Collegeville in 1967.

McTaggart joined MPR in 1983 and — except for two three-year stints with other industries — has been with the organization ever since.

MPR has a 42-radio network with 110,000 members and 900,000 listeners. American Public Media provides such programs as “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Marketplace.”

APMG also is the parent of Southern California Public Radio and Classical South Florida.

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