Hearst's Frank Bennack Nominated to Chair NYC's Lincoln Center

By: (AP) A former chief executive of The Hearst Corp. has been nominated to become chairman of Lincoln Center.

Frank A. Bennack Jr., 72, would succeed Bruce Crawford, 76, who is leaving the post in June.

Bennack's nomination Wednesday comes as the center is set to begin a $1.5 billion redevelopment next year.

Bennack said he would try to carry out Crawford's vision for the project, which calls for widening West 65th Street and renovating Alice Tully Hall, the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and the Juilliard School.

"It is important to continue what Bruce has put in place here," Bennack told The New York Times for Thursday editions. "It's been a good period for the campus."

Bennack was also offered the chairmanship in 2002, after opera star Beverly Sills left the post, but declined because he had been planning to retire. He led Hearst from 1979 to 2002.

He told the Times he was persuaded to take the position this year because he saw that what happens at Lincoln Center "is extremely important to the city."