NECN Founder and President Stepping Down

We’re big fans of NECN here — mainly because Boston Daily staffers are smitten with being on camera, and our cable buddies keep putting us on the air. Oh, and because NECN does fine work. That too.

Alas, nothing lasts forever. The man responsible for creating the station — not to mention bringing two of our favorites, Chet Curtis and Jim Braude, into our homes — is stepping down. Phil Balboni, founder and president of NECN, is leaving the cable network after 16 years.

Balboni has been a giant in the Boston media for years. Before launching NECN in 1992, he worked at WCVB, serving as the station’s vice president and news director. He’s also credited with creating Chronicle.

When Balboni steps down in March, he’ll be succeeded by Charles Kravetz, NECN’s station manager and vice president of news. Like Balboni, Kravetz is a WCVB graduate who’s been at NECN since its inception.

“I will always have a great love for NECN, for our magnificent staff and the unique environment we’ve created here that allows journalists, whether young or old, to do their very best work. My pride in what we’ve built will stay with me forever,” Balboni said in a station-issued press release.

Balboni already has his next step planned out. He’ll be the president and CEO of Global News Enterprises, an international news web site based in the U.S.

Phil, bubby, if you ever need some freelancing done from a beach in the Caribbean, call us.