Randy Bernard joined Rural Media Group as Chief Executive Officer in December of 2012. As the past CEO of two major sports and media ventures, the Professional Bull Riders Association (PBR) and INDYCAR, Bernard, is no stranger to the ins and outs of broadcast media and television. Bernard brings years of proven industry connections and high-level corporate experience to Rural Media Group, which includes such properties as RFD-TV, RURAL TV, FamilyNet, RFD-TV The Theatre, RFD-TV The Magazine and most recently RURAL RADIO on Sirius XM Channel 80.
Previously, as CEO for INDYCAR, Bernard was responsible for overseeing all aspects of INDYCAR. He was instrumental in creating the new DW12 car introduced in 2012, which critics have said brought the best open wheel racing in over two and half decades, changing the name from IRL to INDYCAR, creating a successful ladder series, implementing double file starts, and the first to develop double header races in a weekend.
Prior to joining INDYCAR, Bernard served as CEO of the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. Bernard produced one of the eight PBR events in its inaugural 1994 season while with the marketing and entertainment department of the California Mid State Fair. He was named CEO of PBR in 1995. Bernard shared the vision of the founding members of the organization -- 20 bull riders who broke away from rodeo to revolutionize bull riding and establish it as a stand-alone sport. Bernard worked in tandem with the founding members to develop and guide the PBR brand, and the sport itself, through several stages of growth, profit and global success.
Under Bernard’s leadership, the PBR became one of the fastest growing sports properties in North America, providing opportunities to bull riders that only existed in the imagination of the founding members. In April 2007, Bernard successfully executed a merger between Professional Bull Riders, Inc. and Spire Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. The merger allowed the founding members and other bull riding shareholders to capitalize on their vision, dedication and commitment, while maintaining a significant equity stake in the organization.
Bernard has three children (Priscilla, Ryan and Alexandria) and is married to Cameo Kneuer, a fitness expert. Bernard is now based out of Rural Media Group’s corporate head-quarters in Omaha, Nebraska and travels frequently to the company’s main production studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
