Public radio’s Marketplace hires Molly Wood as new host

Marketplace, the popular Los Angeles public radio show known for its offbeat take on the world of business, is adding to its hosting ranks.

The company has hired Molly Wood, a former New York Times deputy technology editor, as a host and reporter.

Marketplace isn’t replacing any of its current hosts, including Kai Ryssdal, who anchors the flagship program. Instead, Marketplace has been growing its listening audience and was looking for a journalist who could pinch-hit on its four different programs.

“We had a need for somebody who could be our go-to host,” Deborah Clark, executive producer and vice president of Marketplace, said in an interview. “Molly brings a distinctive and engaging on-air presence. She will become one of the voices for Marketplace.”

The Marketplace programs, which are produced and distributed by American Public Media, play on more than 500 public radio stations and reach 11 million weekly listeners. Ryssdal’s afternoon show, broadcast from Los Angeles, has nearly 6 million listeners.

Wood will segue into her radio role April 13.

She will be based in San Francisco and also file reports on technology, an increasingly influential segment of the economy.

“We talk almost every day about technology, and we cover at least one major tech story each day,” Clark said. Among the group’s four radio programs is Marketplace Tech. Wood has been a frequent contributor.

The move to radio represents “the last undiscovered country for me,” Wood said in the phone interview. “This opportunity was just too good to pass up.”

Before working as a deputy technology editor at the New York Times, Wood covered personal technology for other print, online and broadcast forms of journalism.

She launched an early successful podcast for CNET called Buzz Out Loud. She also created and executive produced “Always On With Molly Wood” at CNET.

Twitter: @MegJamesLAT