Mellynda Hartel New Fox San Francisco GM

Mellynda Hartel today was named vice president and general manager of the Fox Television Stations duopoly in San Francisco (DMA 8), which consists of KTVU (Fox) and independent KICU.

Hartel succeeds Gregg Kelley, who announced earlier this month that he was retiring after 28 years with the company. Hartel assumes this position on Nov. 1, reporting to FTS CEO Jack Abernethy.

In making the announcement, Abernethy said: “Mellynda has led a successful ad sales team at FTS for a number of years, most recently at our No. 1 station in San Francisco. Her unique understanding of the market, coupled with her local news sense and results-driven attitude, make her the natural choice to lead our San Francisco duopoly.”

Most recently, Hartel has been the duo’s VP and director of sales, a position she has held for the last four years. Before that, she spent 11 years as the VP-general sales manager for KSAZ-KUTP, the Fox-owned duopoly in Phoenix.

Prior to that role, Hartel was the local sales manager at WFXT, the then Fox-owned station in Boston. She began her career in 1990 as a sales assistant at Fox’s WTTG Washington, where she was promoted to account executive and later, national sales manager.

A graduate of Bryant University, Hartel holds a bachelor’s degree in business communications.