WEEK GM Mark DeSantis To Retire

Veteran WEEK Peoria, Ill. General Manager Mark DeSantis announced he is retiring from TV. He has been VP-GM of WEEK for more than 23 years, the last five years with Quincy Media after it acquired it in 2015.

Quincy Media Regional VP Jim McKernan will assume general manager duties on Feb. 1. DeSantis will serve in a management advisory role through June 4.

Before joining WEEK, DeSantis was with Gannett for 13 years as Creative services director for WUSA Washington and later as VP/programming for KARE Minneapolis. He has enjoyed a 40-year broadcasting career.

During his tenure as VP-GM, WEEK has expanded local news by adding a full slate of local news time periods to HOI (Heart of Illinois), WEEK’s multicast ABC affiliate.

DeSantis holds a B.A. in communications/radio, TV, film communications from Northern Illinois University. He is the past chairman of the Illinois Broadcasters Association.

Quincy RVP Jim McKernan said: “Mark has a long and distinguished track record, particularly with WEEK-TV, that is filled with many business successes and contributions to the communities being served by the station. He has had a great career and we wish him all the best as he turns this new page. We are grateful for his service.” said

“I have enjoyed every minute of my time at WEEK-TV and in the broadcast industry to include working with some of the best in the business,” DeSantis said. “It has been my honor to serve with a talented and dedicated staff and truly great management team. We are particularly proud of our track record of rating and revenue success at WEEK, as well as the more recent growth on the ABC side. I thank Quincy Media for the incredible investment in this great broadcast facility to help make that possible.  That work is now done, and I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.”