John Humphries Tapped To Be WGAL GM

John L. Humphries, who since 2006 has been director of sales at Hearst Television’s WYFF Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C. (DMA 37), today was named president and general manager of Hearst NBC affiliate WGAL Harrisburg-Lancaster, Pa. (DMA 43).

Humphries succeeds Paul Quinn, who in September announced his plans to retire following more than four decades in local television and nearly two decades at the leadership of WGAL.

“John brings a diverse background in news, multiplatform sales, and management to his new role at the helm of the leading TV station in the Lancaster-Harrisburg market,” said Hearst Television President-CEO David J. Barrett. “He has the experience and vision to help build upon the outstanding legacy of Paul Quinn and the WGAL team.”

At WYFF, Humphries oversaw sales for the station, as well as for WYFF4.com, WYFF 4 Mobile and the digital multicast channel WYFF 4.2 This TV. Before joining WYFF in 2006, Humphries was general sales manager of WBTV Charlotte, N.C. Before WBTV, he was general sales manager and station manager of WSPA-WASV Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.

He began his career at WSOC Charlotte, N.C., initially as a production specialist and later, for five years, as a sports reporter and anchor, before making the jump to sales at WSOC as an account executive and, subsequently, local sales manager.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Appalachian State University, in Boone, N.C., for which he has served on the Alumni Council. Among Humphries’ industry associations, he has served on the TVB Sales Advisory Committee and the South Carolina Broadcasters Association Board of Directors.