Merri Hanson Named VP-GM Of KIVI

The E.W. Scripps Co. today promoted Merri Hanson to vice president and general manager of KIVI, its ABC affiliate in Boise, Idaho. Her role is effective Jan. 1, 2021.

She succeeds Ken Ritchie, who is retiring from the post at the end of this year after a combined KIVI tenure of 40 years during which he served as account manager, local sales manager and director of sales before being named general manager in 2014.

Hanson has more than 25 years of sales and broadcast experience and most recently was KIVI station manager. She joined the station in 2016 as a local sales manager.

“We look forward to Merri stepping into this new leadership role as she enters the next chapter in her Scripps career,” said Local Media President Brian Lawlor. “Her decades of experience from journalist to business executive make her a great fit to lead KIVI as it serves the Boise community.”

Prior to joining Scripps, Hanson held roles including vice president of business development with Stevenson Advertising in Seattle, regional marketing executive with Tegna, anchor and producer with KTRV Nampa, Idaho, and general manager of KSVT Hailey, Idaho.

Hanson holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology with an emphasis in business management from Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash.