Mark Gentner is stepping down as the GM of WITN Greenville, N.C., to be succeeded by Ron Henslee. In Charlottesville, Va., Harold Wright will retire as GM of WVIR effective Jan. 31. He’ll be replaced by David Hughes.
Two Gray GM Retirements, Successions
Gray Television is changing leadership at its stations due to retirements.
In Greenville-New Bern, N.C. (DMA 100), Mark Gentner will retire as the general manager of WITN (NBC) effective Nov. 1. In Charlottesville, Va. (DMA 182), Harold Wright will retire as GM of WVIR (NBC) effective Jan. 31.
Gray also announced that Ron Henslee will become GM of WITN following Gentner’s retirement, and David Hughes will become GM Manager of WVIR upon Wright’s retirement.
WITN GM Mark Gentner joined the station as its general sales manager in 2007 after nearly two decades in television, advertising, and marketing. In 2012, he assumed his current role and oversaw the final stages of building WITN’s new studio building and the transition of operations to the new facility.
WITN’s incoming GM, Ron Henslee, has been the station’s general sales manager for the past seven years. Henslee joined Gray Television after serving as local sales manager at WGXA Macon, Ga., for nine years. He has worked in broadcast sales and management for 24 years, getting his start in radio before moving into television sales.
Gray said it “proudly recognizes the distinguished 58-year broadcasting career of Harold Wright. After beginning in radio as a college student at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Harold founded WVIR in 1973 and has served as the station’s GM for the ensuing 46 years. WVIR is consistently one of the highest rated NBC affiliates in the country. Over the years, Harold has received countless awards for his leadership and community involvement, including the Virginia Association of Broadcasters’ C.T. Lucy Distinguished Service Award this past summer, the Associated Press’ Robert Gallimore Distinguished Service Award in 2018, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Chamber of Commerce’s Paul Goodloe McIntyre Award for Community Service in 2007. Most recently, he has shepherded the sale and transition of WVIR to Gray Television.”
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Upon Wright’s retirement early next year, David Hughes will become WVIR’s second ever GM. Hughes joined WVIR on Monday as its station manager and will work closely with Wright over the next few months. For the past three years, Hughes has been the news director for Gray’s WDBJ (CBS) in Roanoke, Va., during which time the station has doubled the amount of local news it produces and broadcasts. His broadcast career includes stints in Tampa, Fl.a; Raleigh, N.C.; and Macon, Ga.
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