Hollis Grizzard, interim news director for Corpus Christi NBC affiliate KRIS has announced he is leaving the station and has appointed another interim news director to take his place.
Grizzard, a senior strategist for Audience Research and Development, LLC in Fort Worth, TX, appointed Rob Dean as his successor. Dean will keep the interim title until a permanent news director can be found.
The station has been without a permanent news director since Sandra Richards was let go by Cordillera Communications in November.
In an internal email sent to TVSpy, Grizzard blamed the move on his other clients, “I do have other client stations that are asking that I turn my attention back to them so Friday will be my last day as Interim News Director.”
Dean has worked as news director in Austin, TX, and at Corpus Christi ABC affiliate KIII. He has also been general manager for two stations including KTSM in El Paso, TX.
Below is the email sent to KRIS staffers:
Thanks for making the past two months easy for me. I appreciate all you’ve done and look forward to continuing to work with everyone as your consultant from AR&D.
However, I do have other client stations that are asking that I turn my attention back to them so Friday will be my last day as Interim News Director. I will be back from time to time and look forward to seeing you then.
Meanwhile, a name and face familiar to many of you will move into the Interim News Director role on Monday and continue in that role until a permanent News Director is selected. Rob Dean will be here tomorrow for an orientation so if you see him please introduce or reintroduce yourself. For those who don’t know, Rob was my News Director years ago in Austin (when we both had hair) and he has also worked as a General Manager in two markets. Rob was also the News Director at KIII for many years and is very familiar with Corpus Christi. Rob has become familiar with the brands of each station and should be able to hit the ground running.
As always, I’m available to any of you via telephone or email.
Best,
Hollis