By Mallory Mattingly
Movieguide® Visionary Award winner Charley Humbard stepped down from his role as UP Entertainment CEO at the beginning of the year, but he couldn’t be more grateful for his time leading the company.
“I guess I’d compare it maybe to your kid going to college and never coming back home,” he reflected in a recent interview with CBN News. “No, it’s certainly an emotional moment for you. But it’s still very emotional. When you are a CEO, but you’re also the founder, it really is your baby.”
Humbard started UP Entertainment as the cable Gospel Music Channel over 20 years ago and eventually transitioned it into a streaming service platforming faith and family content.
“We went on the air in October of 2004. But I started the journey of raising money in early 2002 because I’d left Discovery after 9/11. Decided this is what I wanted to do, was start Gospel Music Channel. So that journey of raising money was a little over two years as well. So, I’ve been doing this a long time now. It’s 22 years as CEO and two years of raising money,” he continued.
Related: Up Entertainment CEO Charles Humbard Steps Down
Though it wasn’t easy, Humbard leaned on his faith and the example of his father, televangelist Rex Humbard, throughout his career.
“I had the opportunity to grow up and learn so much watching dad as a great example of how to live it and really how to speak to people and spread the important message,” the former CEO reflected.
“I remember him at the launch. It was a small group of us, probably about 15 employees at the time,” Humbard recalled. “And his talk to all of us was, honor God in all your ways, and He’ll direct your path. And so that’s something I’ve always kept alive here at the company…because I think it’s important to keep your focus on the right things.”
“It’s so easy in the media industry to get lost and get astray and wander off brand and end up in places that you really aren’t serving the purpose that you started with,” he explained. “So I think that was great to have that experience with dad and have him for at least the first three years.”
Because of Humbard’s dedication to creating content to “entertain, uplift and inspire viewers,” Movieguide® awarded him the Visionary Award in 2023.
“It is really an honor to receive an award from Movieguide®,” Humbard told Movieguide® founder Dr. Ted Baehr. “It’s such a trusted brand in households across America. We lean into it here at Up Entertainment.”
Effective Jan. 1, Philip Manwaring was named the new CEO, while Reta Peery became new President and COO of UP Entertainment.
“The company is poised for continued growth having just completed two of its highest revenue and profit years in the company’s history,” Humbard said when announcing the transition. “I am so confident in the leadership of Philip and Reta to take our business into the future. Having led our key business areas for over 10 years, nobody knows our brands and how to successfully execute our strategy better than they do.”
UP Entertainment and Humbard are incredible examples of what happens when someone honors God in all they do.
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