Sandy Breland Named Gray’s Chief Operating Officer

Gray Television today promoted Sandy Breland from senior managing vice president to executive vice president and chief operating officer. She succeeds Bob Smith, who recently retired after a long career with Gray in various capacities.

“Sandy has vast talents and experience in leading local news-focused operations that have earned her enormous respect within Gray and throughout our industry,” said Gray’s Executive Chairman Hilton H. Howell. “She is the natural choice to lead Gray’s unique portfolio of leading television stations, and we are thrilled to announce her promotion as our new chief operating officer.”

In early 2019, Breland joined Gray as a senior vice president of local media upon Gray’s acquisition of Raycom Media, where had been a group vice president.

As senior managing vice president, she has overseen a portfolio of television stations and local digital platforms in 16 markets as well as Gray’s Washington, D.C. news bureau, its national investigative unit and news support services for all markets. Last year, Breland assumed oversight of recruiting and Gray’s new in-house news research and consulting operation. She also has oversight of InvestigateTV, a weekly program airing across Gray’s stations.

Breland has more than 30 years of experience in local broadcasting and has received some of the industry’s highest honors. Her career has included general manager of WVUE New Orleans and WAFB-WBXH Baton Rouge, La.; executive news director of KTVK Phoenix; and executive news director of WWL-New Orleans.

Breland was honored with Peabody and an Edward R. Murrow awards for her planning and execution of Hurricane Katrina coverage during her time at WWL. She serves on the board of directors for the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism. Breland is a recipient of the RTNDF’s First Amendment Award and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award for public service.

In addition to a bachelor’s in journalism from Loyola University-New Orleans, she has attended continuing education sessions at Columbia University’s Sulzberger Leadership Program, Missouri University’s Management Program for Broadcast Professionals, and the Poynter Institute.