---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001558370-22-013836"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SGA"
cik: "0000886136"
company_name: "SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC"
filed_at: "2022-08-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-23T22:24:56.897060+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.78
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.78
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Saga Communications founder and CEO Ed Christian dies; Warren Lada appointed interim CEO

## Summary
- Chairman, President and CEO Edward K. Christian passed away on August 19, 2022 after a short illness.
- Board appointed Warren S. Lada, a current board member and former COO, as Interim President and CEO.
- Lada, 67, will serve while the board conducts a formal search for a permanent successor to Christian.
- Lada stepped down from the Finance and Audit Committee; independent director Roy F. Coppedge III replaced him.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001558370-22-013836
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SGA
- cik: 0000886136
- company_name: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC
- filed_at: 2022-08-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.78
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.78
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886136/000155837022013836/0001558370-22-013836-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886136/000155837022013836/sga-20220819x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-22-013836
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-22-013836.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-22-013836.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Edward K. Christian departed as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC.
  - Action: passed away
  - Role: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
  source text: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Edward K. Christian passed away on Friday, August 19, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886136/000155837022013836/0001558370-22-013836-index.htm
- Executive change
  Warren S. Lada was appointed as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On August 21, 2022, the Board appointed Warren S. Lada, a current member of the Board, as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, to serve while the Board conducts a formal search for a permanent successor to Mr. Christian.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886136/000155837022013836/0001558370-22-013836-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.