Hawaii Public Radio has a new leader in a former Florida public radio and TV station CEO.

HPR is scheduled to announce today that Jose Fajardo will succeed the 17-year tenure of Michael Titterton as president and general manager of the nonprofit member-supported station.

Fajardo was selected by HPR’s board of directors following a national search facilitated by Livingston Associates, a Baltimore-based firm specializing in executive searches for public media organizations.

Dr. Tyrie Jenkins, HPR’s board chairman, said Fajardo has impressive experience expanding audiences and membership while navigating digital listening habit impacts. Fajardo also has a master’s degree in business administration from Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Florida.

“It won’t be easy to follow the extraordinary tenure of Michael, but after a comprehensive search process, we are convinced that Jose has the right stuff to take Hawaii’s public radio forward,” Jenkins said in a statement.

Fajardo spent 16 years at the Central Florida public TV and radio station WMFE, where as president and CEO he led the activation of digital channels, a change to an all-news radio format and a sale of the TV station to the University of Central Florida.

More recently, Fajardo was executive vice president for the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce.

A Puerto Rico native, Fajardo got his start in broadcasting at a Texas commercial radio station then joined the KNCT public radio and TV stations in Killeen, Texas, where he eventually became general manager.

Fajardo will start full-time work at HPR on May 16. He said he is thrilled and honored to be selected for the job. “HPR has a long, successful history of connecting communities, respected local programs, and an extremely dedicated staff and board,” he said in a statement. “It’s a privilege to be advancing the great work already started by Michael. I look forward to making Hawaii my new home.”

Titterton, who announced plans to depart in November, will leave the station June 30.

The London-born Titterton joined HPR in 1999 and was its longest-serving president and general manager. In a statement, Titterton described Fajardo as a dynamic go-getter with solid public radio experience in another great tourist destination.

“Jose is as excited about coming to work with HPR as I am at the prospect of showing him around and introducing him to the extraordinary people who have made HPR what it is today,” Titterton said.