Ritchie’s KIVI Retirement Sets Stage For Hanson Promotion

0

The E.W. Scripps Company has promoted a local sales star to the top spot of its ABC affiliate in Boise, Idaho.


Merri Hanson will take on her new role as VP/GM on January 1, 2021.

That’s because Ken Ritchie is retiring from his position at the end of this year, concluding a career highlighted by a combined KIVI tenure of 40 years. During his KIVI career, Ritchie served in roles, including account manager, local sales manager and director of sales before being named general manager in 2014.

Hanson has over 25 years of sales and broadcast experience and most recently served as Station Manager. She joined the station in 2016 as a local sales manager.

“We look forward to Merri stepping into this new leadership role as she enters the next chapter in her Scripps career,” said Scripps Local Media President Brian Lawlor. “Her decades of experience from journalist to business executive make her a great fit to lead KIVI as it serves the Boise community.”

Prior to joining Scripps, Hanson held roles including VP of Business Development with Stevenson Advertising in Seattle, and as a regional marketing executive with TEGNA.

She’s also been an anchor and producer with KTRV in Nampa, Idaho, and served as GM of KSVT in Hailey, Idaho.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the phenomenal group of people at Idaho News 6,”  Hanson said. “During a time when our community has been challenged due to the pandemic, I am proud of how our people have come together, worked tirelessly to keep the public informed, created opportunities for businesses and helped organizations who work with the most vulnerable in our community. Our culture is as strong as ever, and I look forward to the things we will accomplish together.”