First on TVNewser: Dave Davis is leaving his post at ABC News and returning to his old job as general manager of ABC’s flagship station WABC in New York, TVNewser has learned.
Davis joined ABC News as #2 to David Westin in September, 2007. He was tasked with, in Westin’s words, being the “single, senior executive to oversee all of our television broadcasts, replacing the structure in which the programs reported to several different people.”
In reality, Davis was the heavy at ABC News tasked with reorganizing the broadcast news division. The multi-year reorganization culminated in April with employee cuts — through buyouts and layoffs — of up to 400 staffers.
When Davis joined the #2 broadcast news outlet in 2007 some saw him ascending to the top job, taking over for Westin who’s been president of ABC News for 13 years — at that level, an eternity in TV news.
Davis’ old job at WABC, which is the #1 local TV station in the country, became vacant in May when Rebecca Campbell was promoted to president of the ABC Owned Television Stations Group. Davis will now report to Campbell.
> More: WABC staffers are gathering in the “LIVE with Regis & Kelly” studio for the announcement. “LIVE” is produced by WABC out of the 7 Lincoln Square building.
> Update: The announcement from WABC after the jump…
> More: Westin writes, “Effective immediately, the executive producers and others who have been reporting to Dave will return to my direct supervision.” His note after the jump…
First on TVNewser: Dave Davis is leaving his post at ABC News and returning to his old job as general manager of ABC’s flagship station WABC in New York, TVNewser has learned.
Davis joined ABC News as #2 to David Westin in September, 2007. He was tasked with, in Westin’s words, being the “single, senior executive to oversee all of our television broadcasts, replacing the structure in which the programs reported to several different people.”
In reality, Davis was the heavy at ABC News tasked with reorganizing the broadcast news division. The multi-year reorganization culminated in April with employee cuts — through buyouts and layoffs — of up to 400 staffers.
When Davis joined the #2 broadcast news outlet in 2007 some saw him ascending to the top job, taking over for Westin who’s been president of ABC News for 13 years — at that level, an eternity in TV news.
Davis’ old job at WABC, which is the #1 local TV station in the country, became vacant in May when Rebecca Campbell was promoted to president of the ABC Owned Television Stations Group. Davis will now report to Campbell.
> More: WABC staffers are gathering in the “LIVE with Regis & Kelly” studio for the announcement. “LIVE” is produced by WABC out of the 7 Lincoln Square building.
> Update: The announcement from WABC after the jump…
> More: Westin writes, “Effective immediately, the executive producers and others who have been reporting to Dave will return to my direct supervision.” His note after the jump…
J. DAVID DAVIS NAMED PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF WABC-TV,
THE ABC-OWNED TELEVISION STATION IN NEW YORK
New York, NY, July 2, 2010 – J. David (Dave) Davis, executive vice president, ABC News, has been named president and general manager of WABC-TV in New York, the ABC Television Stations Group’s flagship station in the nation’s largest television market, it was announced today by Rebecca S. Campbell, president of the ABC Television Stations Group. The appointment of Mr. Davis, an executive with 30 years experience in the station business, is effective immediately, and marks a return to the number one station that he successfully managed from 2003-07.
As WABC-TV President and General Manager, Mr. Davis has overall management responsibility for WABC-TV/Channel 7 and all of its ancillary businesses, including two additional digital TV channels (LiveWell HD and a local/regional weather channel powered by AccuWeather); 7online.com, the station’s Internet site; and “Live! with Regis and Kelly,” the long-running hit syndicated series produced by the station. Mr. Davis both preceded and succeeds Rebecca Campbell in the position.
“News is the lifeblood of our stations and Dave’s credentials are unmatched in that area, having spent more than 33 years in the business with 28 of those for the ABC Owned Station Group,” Ms. Campbell said. “His intimate knowledge of WABC and the New York market make him ideally suited for the top job at our flagship station. We’re thrilled to welcome him back to our division and to Channel 7.”
In commenting on Mr. Davis’ appointment, David Westin, president ABC News, stated, “While we are sad to see Dave leave ABC News, the company deserves the very best for the number one station in the largest market in the country, and there’s no arguing that Dave is that person. Our loss is WABC’s gain, and we look forward to working closely with Dave in New York.”
Mr. Davis added, “There’s a reason I’ve spent the vast majority of my career with local news stations – I have a true passion for the unique role and service they provide their communities. I’m thrilled with this opportunity and look forward to again managing the number one station in the nation’s number one market.”
Mr. Davis started his career in broadcast news, as a News Photographer, in 1977 at KTRK-TV, the ABC owned television station in Houston. He was subsequently promoted to News Reporter and then News Producer. In 1982, he moved to WFAA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, as Producer of the 6 p.m. news. Two years later, he returned to KTRK-TV as Executive Producer for news.
In 1986, Mr. Davis was promoted to News Director, WTVD, the ABC owned television station in Raleigh-Durham. He joined WPVI-TV as News Director in 1990 and was promoted to President and General Manager in 1997. He was named President and General Manager of WABC-TV in 2003. In 2007 he moved to ABC News as Executive Vice President.
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CONVERT BREAKS: __default__
J. DAVID DAVIS NAMED PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF WABC-TV,
THE ABC-OWNED TELEVISION STATION IN NEW YORK
New York, NY, July 2, 2010 – J. David (Dave) Davis, executive vice president, ABC News, has been named president and general manager of WABC-TV in New York, the ABC Television Stations Group’s flagship station in the nation’s largest television market, it was announced today by Rebecca S. Campbell, president of the ABC Television Stations Group. The appointment of Mr. Davis, an executive with 30 years experience in the station business, is effective immediately, and marks a return to the number one station that he successfully managed from 2003-07.
As WABC-TV President and General Manager, Mr. Davis has overall management responsibility for WABC-TV/Channel 7 and all of its ancillary businesses, including two additional digital TV channels (LiveWell HD and a local/regional weather channel powered by AccuWeather); 7online.com, the station’s Internet site; and “Live! with Regis and Kelly,” the long-running hit syndicated series produced by the station. Mr. Davis both preceded and succeeds Rebecca Campbell in the position.
“News is the lifeblood of our stations and Dave’s credentials are unmatched in that area, having spent more than 33 years in the business with 28 of those for the ABC Owned Station Group,” Ms. Campbell said. “His intimate knowledge of WABC and the New York market make him ideally suited for the top job at our flagship station. We’re thrilled to welcome him back to our division and to Channel 7.”
In commenting on Mr. Davis’ appointment, David Westin, president ABC News, stated, “While we are sad to see Dave leave ABC News, the company deserves the very best for the number one station in the largest market in the country, and there’s no arguing that Dave is that person. Our loss is WABC’s gain, and we look forward to working closely with Dave in New York.”
Mr. Davis added, “There’s a reason I’ve spent the vast majority of my career with local news stations – I have a true passion for the unique role and service they provide their communities. I’m thrilled with this opportunity and look forward to again managing the number one station in the nation’s number one market.”
Mr. Davis started his career in broadcast news, as a News Photographer, in 1977 at KTRK-TV, the ABC owned television station in Houston. He was subsequently promoted to News Reporter and then News Producer. In 1982, he moved to WFAA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, as Producer of the 6 p.m. news. Two years later, he returned to KTRK-TV as Executive Producer for news.
In 1986, Mr. Davis was promoted to News Director, WTVD, the ABC owned television station in Raleigh-Durham. He joined WPVI-TV as News Director in 1990 and was promoted to President and General Manager in 1997. He was named President and General Manager of WABC-TV in 2003. In 2007 he moved to ABC News as Executive Vice President.
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From: Westin, David L.
Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 11:08 AM
To: ABCTV News ALL
Subject: Dave Davis
I’m pleased, but also sad, to say that Dave Davis has decided to give up his position as our executive vice president and return to run WABC-TV here in New York. During his tenure here, Dave demonstrated time and again his superb news judgment. He has led our programs and special events coverage of the 2008 presidential election, the war in Afghanistan, the economic crisis, and most recently the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He also oversaw our anchor changes at “World News,” “Good Morning America,” “20/20,” and “This Week.” As important, he proved himself a valued colleague and friend.
But Dave also showed his superb abilities during his prior tenure at our New York station, and the company deserves the very best for the number one station in the largest market in the country.
We will miss him – but fortunately he is moving only around the corner. We will have many opportunities to continue working with him in the years ahead.
Please join me in congratulating Dave in his new position.
Effective immediately, the executive producers and others who have been reporting to Dave will return to my direct supervision.