KNWA Exec Promoted

Source: TV Newsday Blake Russell to serve be vice president of marketing and operations. He’s succeeded as VP/general manager of KNWA Fayetteville, Ark., by Mike Vaughn.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group today announced the appointment of Blake Russell to serve as the company’s vice president of marketing and operations. Working with Nexstar’s 29 general managers, he will be responsible for the conception, execution and implementation of the company’s strategic initiatives and special projects.

Russell has served as vice president/general manager of Nexstar’s KNWA (NBC) Fayetteville , Ark. , and KFTA (Fox) Fort Smith , Ark. , since 2004. During that time, he re-launched and rebranded the station with the KNWA call letters, and last year launched KFTA.

In making the announcement, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook commented, “During Blake’s 10 years with Nexstar, he has been instrumental in re-launching and re-positioning stations in Beaumont , Shreveport , and Ft. Smith/Fayetteville. Blake will bring this experience to the corporate level to help lead the continuing evolution of the company to a multi-platform, local content and service provider. He will also play a key role in our regional hub strategies.”

Prior to joining Nexstar, Russell held various promotion and production management positions at KJAC Beaumont, Texas; KLRT/KASN Little Rock, Ark.; and KAIT Jonesboro, Ark.

Mike Vaughn, will replace Russell as VP/GM KNWA. He will have additional oversight of KFTA under the terms of a shared services and joint sales agreement with Mission Broadcasting. Nexstar has entered into a definitive agreement to sell KFTA to Mission and is awaiting FCC approval.

Vaughn has been director of sales for KARK Little Rock and KNWA/KFTA since August 2005. Prior to that, Vaughn was general sales manager at KNWA/KFTA and local sales manager at KSFX/KOLR Springfield, Mo. He also held various sales positions at KPBI and KPOM/KFAA Fayetteville/Ft. Smith.