Scott Charton, Director of Communications for the ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ of Missouri System since 2005, is leaving the ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ to form his own communications and consulting company, UM President Gary Forsee announced Monday afternoon.
"Scott Charton has been an integral part of the ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ of Missouri leadership team for three presidents. His wise counsel, rich experience and vast Missouri knowledge and contacts have been of tremendous service to the state and our institution," President Forsee said. "On a personal note, I deeply appreciate Scott's tireless support and advocacy of my presidency since I came on board. Scott and the ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ will always be good friends, and the Board of Curators and I wish Scott every success as he embarks on an exciting new enterprise."
Charton, 46, first worked as a communications consultant for the ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ after a distinguished two-decade career as a journalist with The Associated Press, the world's largest newsgathering organization, and before that in broadcast journalism. Charton was appointed in 2005 to oversee formation of the new Department of ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ Communications, with responsibilities including external communications on behalf of the Board of Curators and the UM System administration. His last day with the ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ will be April 30. On May 1, he will lead Charton Communications & Consulting, a new company based in Columbia and Jefferson City.
"I very much appreciate the confidence placed in me by the Board of Curators and three presidential administrations to lead a wonderful team of communications professionals. Now I am excited about accepting terrific new opportunities that have been presented to me," Charton said. "I am particularly grateful for President Forsee's tremendous leadership and vision. He will guide the ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ to new pinnacles of achievement in service to Missourians."
Founded in 1839, the ¾Ã²ÝÈȾòÝÊÓƵ of Missouri is the state's land-grant, research and doctoral-granting system of public higher education, with campuses in Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla and St. Louis.
A high resolution photo of Scott Charton is available online here: https://umsystem.edu/ums/news/releases/images/scharton-hires.jpg
Reviewed 2011-05-06