Valari Dobson Staab new head of NBC O&Os

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NBCUniversal has hired Valari Dobson Staab away from Disney/ABC to be the new President of NBC Local Media, overseeing the 10 O&O stations, local online properties, and the digital out of home division. She succeeds John Wallace, who has been named President, NBCUniversal Media Works.


Staab has been President and General Manager of KGO-TV San Francisco. She’s been at the helm of that ABC O&O since 2002. As President of NBC Local Media, effective June 1st, she will be responsible for NBC’s 10 owned-and-operated television stations, its local online properties, and digital out of home division. She will also oversee the local lifestyle programming production company LX.TV and the in-house marketing and promotion company Skycastle Entertainment.

Prior to KGO-TV, Staab spent 15 years at the ABC stations group, serving in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility, including President/GM of WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, President/GM of KFSN-TV Fresno, CA and Director of Creative Services for WPVI-TV Philadelphia.

“We’re thrilled to have an executive of Valari’s caliber join our Local Media group. Throughout her career in local television she’s had tremendous success growing the businesses she’s worked for and placing a premium on creating quality local news that resonates with viewers. She will do an outstanding job building on the great work of our Local Media group as we continue to invest in our stations and establish them as leaders in their markets,” said Ted Harbert, Chairman, NBC Broadcasting, to whom Staab will report.

Wallace, who served as President, NBC Local Media since 2007, will be responsible for the company’s technology and studio operations, including the areas of information technology, digital projects and services, sourcing, environmental health and safety, and crisis management. He will also oversee NBCUniversal’s multi-million square-foot real estate portfolio, which includes Rockefeller Center in New York and Universal City in California. Wallace takes over for John Eck who will be leaving NBCUniversal.