Rick Blangiardi
President & General Manager
Hawaii News Now

Rick Blangiardi has led a life of uncompromising service to Hawaii, his colleagues and especially his family. Blangiardi has shown the far-reaching nature of his heart and an abundant generosity of spirit.

An inspiring and highly effective visionary leader, his passion is infectious to everyone he engages. His ability to drive positive change by bringing out the best in people is his trademark.

Rick is the General Manager of Hawaii’s largest multimedia company, Hawaii News Now, KGMB (CBS) and KHNL (NBC). Prior to his career in broadcast, Blangiardi spent seven years as a college football coach, five of those at the University of Hawaii, and left the coaching ranks as the Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Football Coach at UH.

Blangiardi then began his broadcast career at KGMB in 1977 and today is a nationally recognized television broadcaster, succeeding in senior executive positions in many of the nation’s most competitive markets including New York City, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Prior to returning to Hawaii in 2002, Blangiardi was the President of Telemundo Holdings, Inc., the nation’s second largest Hispanic television network, and was highly instrumental in leading the sale of Telemundo in 2001 to NBC for $2.7 billion.

For the fourth consecutive year, Hawaii News Now was voted by Rick’s team of 160 employees as one of “Hawaii’s Best Places to Work”. Blangiardi encourages a culture of service in the workplace and he has made community the foundation of his leadership. He has helped lead the station’s relentless advocacy work in their efforts to put a spotlight on the plight of Hawaii’s Homeless, and he has been nationally recognized by the Joyful Heart Foundation, for his strong commitment and involvement in raising awareness in the battle to end Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse.

Practicing what he preaches, he also has an extensive and incredible resumé of involvement with Hawaii’s leading non-profits, educational institutions, and youth development programs including Past President for the Aloha Council, Boy Scouts of America, and Chair of the Board, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. Long associated with UH Football, he was Past President of Na Koa, the University of Hawaii Football Booster Club.

Blangiardi was recognized by the Sales and Marketing Executives International Chapter for the highly coveted and prestigious “Salesperson of the Year for 2010”, presented annually to an individual ‘who has greatly enhanced the image of Hawaii, and the quality of life in our community’.

In 2014, he was awarded the University of Hawaii’s “Distinguished Alumni Award”, having earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration (M.Ed.) in 1973.

Recently Rick was recognized by the Aloha Council-Boy Scouts of America as “Hawaii’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year for 2015”.

Blangiardi resides in Honolulu with his wife, Karen Chang. He has two sons, a daughter, two granddaughters, and a grandson.