Molly Kelleher Named WBTV Charlotte News Director

Gray Television CBS affiliate WBTV Charlotte, N.C., has a new news director, promoting Assistant News Director Molly Kelleher to the newsroom’s top spot.

Kelleher takes over for outgoing News Director Kim Saxon, who recently accepted the news director role at WGCL Atlanta. Gray Television acquired WGCL along with 15 other stations when it purchased Meredith’s TV properties earlier this month.

“I am so grateful to take on this new role and stay in this community that I love,” said Kelleher. “I am proud to be tapped to lead a newsroom full of journalists that care so passionately day in and day out.”

WBTV General Manager Scott Dempsey said he knew he didn’t have to look too far for Saxon’s successor. “Molly is a dedicated and experienced journalist,” he said. “She has been at the helm of every major coverage plan, station initiative, and has helped develop many of the talented professionals in our newsroom in these past seven years at WBTV. We’re confident her leadership will continue to put us on a path toward future success and help us continue to serve our growing community.”

Kelleher, a 20-year TV news veteran, started her career as a weekend producer at KOLO Reno, Nev., while earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Nevada. After getting her master’s degree at Boston University, she turned an internship into her first reporting job at WVII Bangor, Maine.

Her next stop took her to the Pacific Northwest at KEPR Pasco, Wash., where she took on several newsroom roles including MMJ, anchor, producer and newsroom manager.

She spent three years as executive producer at KOLD Tucson, Ariz., before moving to WBTV in 2014. She served as executive producer for five years prior to being named assistant news director in 2019.

Kelleher officially takes on the new role on Jan. 8, 2022.