After 27 years as president and general manager of KCCI in Des Moines, Paul Fredericksen is set to retire from the Hearst Television CBS affiliate.
“Paul has had a remarkable career at KCCI,” Hearst Television chairman and CEO David J. Barrett said in a statement. “The station’s many accomplishments over the years – characterized by its dedicated service to its community, its noteworthy coverage of Iowa’s high profile political campaigns, and its consistent ratings leadership – are a testament to Paul’s outstanding stewardship of a great television station.”
Fredericksen joined the station in 1973 as business manager. He was promoted to president and general manager in 1986.
“I can’t think of anywhere else that I would have rather spent 40 plus years of my life,” he said. “It has been a truly fulfilling experience – one I doubt I would have found anywhere else.”
Fredericksen will retire later this year. Hearst says a successor will be announced at a later date. The press release is after the jump.
FREDERICKSEN TO RETIRE AS PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER OF KCCI-TV, DES MOINES
NEW YORK, N.Y., and Des Moines, IA, September 20, 2013 – Paul Fredericksen, President and General Manager since 1986 of KCCI-TV, the Hearst Television Inc. CBS affiliate serving the Des Moines, Iowa, television market, will retire later this year, capping four decades in local television and nearly three decades at the helm of Des Moines’ #1 TV station. His successor will be announced at a future date.
“Paul has had a remarkable career at KCCI,” said Hearst Television Chairman & CEO David J. Barrett. “The station’s many accomplishments over the years – characterized by its dedicated service to its community, its noteworthy coverage of Iowa’s high profile political campaigns, and its consistent ratings leadership – are a testament to Paul’s outstanding stewardship of a great television station.”
“We are very proud of Paul’s leadership of KCCI and its status as one of the top performing television stations in Iowa and nationwide,” said Jordan Wertlieb, President of Hearst Television. “Paul has been the personification of KCCI, and has been instrumental in championing the station’s presence on regional and national stages.”
“It has been a dream come true to have worked with such wonderful people at just one place during my career in local television,” Fredericksen said. “I can’t think of anywhere else that I would have rather spent 40 plus years of my life. It has been a truly fulfilling experience – one I doubt I would have found anywhere else. I am so proud to have helped shape KCCI into what it is today – ‘Iowa’s News Leader.’”
KCCI earned prestigious national Edward R. Murrow Awards, from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) in 2005 and 2012, and has been the recipient of numerous regional Murrow Awards as well as regional Emmys and other honors over the years.
Fredericksen began his television career at KCCI – then KRNT – as Business Manager in 1973 when it was owned by Cowles Communications. In 1986, he was promoted to President and General Manager when the station was under the ownership of H&C Communications, Inc. Hearst Television acquired the station as part of its 1999 acquisition of then-owner Pulitzer Broadcasting.
Fredericksen has received numerous industry honors, including Iowa Broadcaster of the Year and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Man of the Year. He served for three terms on the CBS affiliate board. His civic activities have included serving as Chairman of the Board for Holy Trinity Church in Ankeny, Iowa, for two terms, and he has volunteered his time as a board member for numerous other community and non-profit organizations throughout Central Iowa.
Fredericksen graduated in 1968 from Buena Vista University, in Storm Lake, Iowa, which later honored him with a Henry Olsen Award recognizing distinguished alumni.