Pierson Mapes was a network executive and former president of NBC.

After graduating from Norwich University he spent four years in the U.S. Army as a captain in the Signal Corps.

His career launched with the first of two stints for NBC, beginning in 1963 with jobs in sales services and affiliate relations positions. He then moved to Blair Television, where he worked for seven years in sales and management positions. In 1978 he returned to NBC as the vice president of network planning.

Mapes increased the network’s revenue, and by 1985 NBC was #1 in the ratings. The following year GE bought the network, which continued to thrive under him. He retired from NBC in 1994.

Mapes died October 15, 2015. He was 78.