Joseph Richard Kernen (born January 6, 1956) is an American news anchor who is the co-host of Squawk Box on CNBC.

Joe Kernen
Kernen in 2014
Born
Joseph Richard Kernen[1]

(1956-01-06) January 6, 1956 (age 68)
Alma materUniversity of Colorado Boulder (BS)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS)
Occupation(s)Stockbroker, TV news anchor
AgentAri Emanuel
SpousePenelope Kernen (nee Scott)
Children2
Websitewww.cnbc.com/joe-kernen/

Early life and education

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Kernen grew up in Western Hills, Cincinnati and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1974.[2] He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and a master's degree in molecular biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where his Master's thesis was on cancer.[3]

Career

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Kernen came to CNBC in the 1991 merger with Financial News Network, having joined FNN after a 10-year career as a stockbroker.

In 1995, he became the co-host of Squawk Box.[2]

Controversies

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Imitation of Indian accent

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On September 20 of 2013, Kernen imitated an Indian accent on CNBC's "Squawk Box" program while discussing banknotes from India and asked if the Indian rupee is accepted as currency at 7-Eleven stores. He later stated, "Last Friday, I made an inappropriate and insensitive remark on Squawk Box. I apologize for any offense it caused."[4][5]

Irish geography

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In November 2014, during an on-air interview, Kernen asked IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan why Ireland did not use the pound sterling and asked if Ireland and Scotland were not on the same island.[6][7] Critics say Kernen appeared to believe that Republic of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom while ignoring the fact that Northern Ireland is indeed part of the UK.[8]

Personal life

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Kernen is married to Penelope Scott Kernen, a former commodities trader from Short Hills, New Jersey.[9] They met after she joined CNBC in 1996 and were married in 1998 on a golf course.

His nicknames are "The Kahuna" and "The Hair".[10]

Bibliography

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Kernen authored Your Teacher Said What?!: Defending Our Kids from the Liberal Assault on Capitalism, (2011) with his then 5th grade daughter Blake.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kernen, Joseph Richard. Dissection of the Murine Erythroleukemia Cell Differentiation Program. Master's thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1980.
  2. ^ a b Watkins, Steve (September 10, 2015). "EXCLUSIVE: Cincinnati native Kernen looks back on 20 years hosting CNBC's 'Squawk Box'". American City Business Journals.
  3. ^ "Joe Kernen". CNBC.
  4. ^ KLEINE, ALBERT (September 24, 2013). "CNBC's Kernen Reacts To Indian Central Banking Decision With Racial Stereotypes". Media Matters for America.
  5. ^ "CNBC anchor Joe Kernen criticized for making racist comment on air". MarketWatch. September 24, 2013.
  6. ^ Brophy, Daragh (November 3, 2014). ""Why do you have euros?" The head of the IDA was asked some truly bizarre questions on CNBC today..." TheJournal.ie.
  7. ^ Mackey, Robert (November 4, 2014). "Irish Agog That Joe Kernen, CNBC Host, Missed Their Exit From U.K.". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Lyons, Tom (November 3, 2014). "Ireland's IDA boss faces bizarre CNBC interview". The Irish Times.
  9. ^ Winston, Fan (November 4, 2016). "Inside the Century-Old New Jersey Home of Squawk Box's Joe Kernen". Architectural Digest.
  10. ^ McDonough-Taub, Gloria (June 26, 2013). "Unscripted: Joe Kernen's Biggest Loss". CNBC.