Breaking News
A veteran local media executive has been named President and GM of CBS News and Stations’ local businesses in Los Angeles.
It’s a role that puts the person presently in charge of Hearst Television‘s NBC affiliate in New Orleans in the top position at two of ViacomCBS’s biggest owned-and-operated stations.
Starting October 18, Joel Vilmenay will be in charge of KCBS-2, KCAL-9 and the OTT-distributed CBSN Los Angeles operation.
He reports to CBS Stations President Jennifer Mitchell, and in doing so transitions from an 18-year run at Hearst. Since February 2007, he’s been President/GM of WDSU-6. There, he’s fended off competitors including Gray Television’s WVUE-8, the FOX affiliate.
CBS News and Stations President and Co-Head Wendy McMahon, who is above Mitchell, commented, “We are pleased that our Los Angeles team is getting a solid leader like Joel, who is an innovator as well as a thoughtful provider of inspiration and calm. As a broadcaster and proud Louisiana native, I admire Joel for the incredible poise and professionalism he has displayed the last 14 years in one of the busiest breaking news markets in the country. Beginning with his first days on the job in New Orleans, 18 months after Hurricane Katrina, and continuing most recently with Hurricane Ida, he has helped his colleagues and local community rise above the storm on countless occasions.”
In January 2021, Vilmenay was one of 13 senior-level leaders named to the NAB’s newly created Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
“I join Wendy and others in our industry who know Joel in being thoroughly impressed with his character, creativity and achievements,” Mitchell added. “In addition to being a leader who is well-liked and admired, Joel also stands out for all the work he has done to reimagine the business of local broadcasting, and build out new content distribution platforms and opportunities for future success. We can’t wait to welcome him and his family to Los Angeles, and introduce him to the talented and experienced team at CBS 2 and KCAL 9.”
Vilmenay said he is both honored and humbled to have the opportunity to take on leadership duties at KCAL and KCBS. “I consider this a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best in the business in front of a blank canvas and help create a brighter future for my colleagues, as well as our community and business partners,” he said.
Vilmenay’s passion for broadcasting dates back to working at the University of Maryland-College Park’s student-run WMUC-FM. He began his professional career 31 years ago as an account executive at WWWZ-FM in Charleston, S.C. Less than a year later, he returned to his hometown of Washington, D.C., and spent several years with Gannett-owned (and today TEGNA) CBS affiliate WUSA-9.
His first experience as a GM came at Hearst’s KETV-7, the Hearst-owned ABC affiliate in Omaha, Neb., from 2003-2007.
SOURCE: Radio+Television Business Report
