LIN Media has announced the retirement of Scott Blumenthal, executive vice president television and the appointment of his successor, Jay Howell.
Blumenthal started his broadcast career in 1970 and worked at WTWO in Terre Haute, IN, and WRTV in Indianapolis, IN, before starting his own advertising agency, commercial syndication and animation studio.
He was hired by LIN in 1983 as local sales manager for WISH in Indianapolis and was named president and general manager of WOOD and WOTV in Grand Rapids, MI, in 1994. He came back to WISH as president and GM in 1999 before being named regional vice president for LIN Media in 2002. Three years later he was promoted to vice president television and was named executive vice president television in 2006.
Blumenthal will step down December 31. Howell, who is currently the vice president regional television for LIN, will take over January 1, 2014.
“Scott’s deep understanding of television news, programming, sales and community engagement, coupled with his decisive leadership, has contributed enormously to the growth and success of our Company,” Vincent Sadusky, president and chief executive officer of LIN Media said in a statement. “His retirement culminates a long and successful career in broadcasting and is certainly well deserved. Scott has done a great job preparing Jay for a smooth transition and giving him the tools he needs to continue evolving our television stations for the future.”
Blumenthal will provide consulting services to the company after his retirement.