Mike Spruill Named GM Of KRBK-KOZL

Nexstar Broadcasting today promoted Mike Spruill to vice president and general manager of its broadcast and digital operations in Springfield, Mo., (DMA 73), overseeing KRBK (Fox), KOZL (MNT), Ozarksfirst.com and their related social media channels.

In his new role, he will also be responsible for overseeing Nexstar’s relationship with Mission Broadcasting’s KOLR (CBS) under a joint operating agreement. Spruill assumes his new responsibilities immediately and report to Mike Vaughn, senior vice president and regional manager for Nexstar Broadcasting.

Spruill’s promotion follows the retirement of Leo Henning, who oversaw Nexstar’s Springfield operations beginning in 2012 and enjoyed a broadcasting career that spanned five decades.

Spruill brings more than 30 years of experience in broadcast television marketing and sales to his new role at Nexstar, serving most recently as general sales manager for Nexstar’s broadcast and digital operations in Nashville, where he oversaw all sales functions for WKRN (ABC).

Prior to joining Nexstar, Spruill held a series of local sales and management positions of increasing responsibility in both medium- and large-size markets across the country, including Houston, Orlando and Kansas City, Mo.

“We are deeply indebted to Leo Henning for his legacy of leadership in the broadcast industry and for his service over the last seven-plus years as vice president and general manager of our Springfield, Mo., operations,” said Vaughn. “Nexstar and the staffs of KOZL-TV and KRBK-TV share this sentiment, and we wish him the best of many years to come, enjoying his free time and family in retirement. As we transition to our next leader and following in the footsteps of Leo, we are confident and proud to promote Mike. He is the ideal executive to lead Nexstar’s operations in Springfield and continue to build upon the success of his predecessor. He is a highly qualified sales professional who has generated strong results everywhere he has worked for more than three decades. His expertise in creating, developing and executing exceptional local multi-platform solutions for advertising and marketing clients, as well as driving new business opportunities and forging important community partnerships, has resulted in deeper client relationships and an even stronger commitment to viewers. We are very much looking forward to working with him in his new role.”

Spruill attended college at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo., where he was a starting offensive lineman for the Griffons football team. He graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a degree in liberal arts.

Spruill is a veteran of the Unites States Navy, where he served as an Aviation Electronics Technician, Third Class.