LEWISTON – Maine Public Broadcasting’s Rob Gardiner announced to his staff Thursday that he will step down as president and general manager by the end of next year after achieving several milestones.

The coming year will bring initiation of a statewide digital TV service, completion of a major fund-raising campaign and the celebration of the 40th anniversary of public broadcasting in Maine.

“Completing these major efforts will be a good way to wrap up my years in public broadcasting,” Gardiner wrote in an e-mail to employees.

Gardiner, 57, of Cumberland, said he has no specific plans other than to take a long vacation and spend time with his family.

Gardiner, who notified the board of trustees of his decision earlier this month, joined WCBB-TV in Lewiston in 1988 as general manager. In 1992, he played a key role in the merger of WCBB-TV and Maine Public Broadcasting Network, a division of the University of Maine System.

Maine Public Broadcasting attracts more than half a million television viewers and radio listeners each week.

“Maine Public Broadcasting is a much more important player in Maine and provides a more significant service as a result of changes we have made over the last several decades,” Gardiner said.

Gardiner said Maine Public Broadcasting got a much-needed vote of support from state residents in 1999 when they approved $9.4 million to cover the cost of digital broadcasting equipment.

That vote of confidence, said Gardiner, inspired private fund-raising efforts to match the public funds by the end of 2002.

Maine Public Broadcasting already has received $6.4 million in donations and needs another $5 million to complete the digital conversion, said Rhonda Morin, spokeswoman for Maine Public Broadcasting.

More recently, Gardiner helped resolve a backlash after Maine Public Radio revamped its programming, prompting an outcry from fans of opera and classical music, some of whom indicated they would withdraw financial support.

After receiving more than 2,000 comments from the public, trustees brought back the Metropolitan Opera to its Saturday schedule and restored an hour of music on weekday afternoons.

Maine Public Broadcasting’s trustees already have formed a succession committee to guide the process of replacing Gardiner. The committee will decide the selection criteria and conduct the search.