UH alumnus replacing Les Moonves as interim chairman of CBS
![](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/web1_20180926_WEB_PARSONS.jpg)
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / 2009
Richard Parsons has been named interim chairman of the board of CBS.
CBS Corp. has chosen media industry veteran Richard Parsons, a University of Hawaii alumnus, as interim chairman of the board as the company moves to reshape itself following the ouster of longtime chief Les Moonves.
Parsons is the former chairman of Time Warner and Citicorp. He was added to the board of CBS this month along with five others as the company pursues an independent investigation Moonves after allegations of sexual harassment.
Parsons, 70, majored in history at UH Manoa and received the UH Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997 as well as an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2003. He spoke at UH in 2009 as the Dan and Maggie Inouye Chair in Democratic Ideals.
“Dick Parsons has a combination of deep industry knowledge and unmatched corporate and board experience,” said Candace Beinecke, chairwoman of the nominating and governance committee at CBS. “We are fortunate to have Dick in this leadership role.”
CBS also said Tuesday that two other board members were stepping down. Bruce Gordon and William Cohen had been on the company’s board since it became a stand-alone public company in 2006.
Moonves resigned just after six women joined others who had previously accused the long-time television executive with sexual misconduct.