Michele Greppi of TVWeek writes that CNBC anchor Joe Kernen is respected by new rival Fox Business Network head Roger Ailes and considered one of its selling points in the upcoming competition.
Greppi wrote, “Rather than fret that Mr. Kernen, the breezy ‘Squawk Box’ co-anchor occasionally referred to as ‘the Kahuna’ and ‘the Hair,’ might be asked to be ‘the stud’ for someone else, CNBC has locked him up early for another five years.
“Mr. Kernen’s longtime agent, IMG Senior Corporate VP Sandy Montag, makes it sound very simple. ‘Joe has been part of the NBC family for a long time, has great relationships from the top on down, and just felt that this was the best place to continue his broadcasting career. He’s thrilled that we worked out a great new deal.’
“Mr. Kernen, who was a stockbroker for 10 years before making the move to TV, makes it sound even simpler in a phone conversation that sometimes wandered into raucous (and off-the-record) territory.”
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