KMSP-WFTC GM Carol Rueppel Retiring

Carol Rueppel, vice president and general manager of Fox-owned KMSP (Fox) and WFTC (MNT) in Minneapolis (DMA 15), announced her upcoming retirement after 17 years with Fox Television Stations.

Rueppel was named VP-GM of KMSP-WFTC in October 2001. Under her direction KMSP has increased its newscasts to 52 hours a week. In the summer and fall of 2014, KMSP launched Fox 9 News at 6 p.m., Fox 9 News at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Fox 9 Game Day at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, and Fox Sports Now at 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

Under Rueppel’s guidance the stations have developed several original formats, including The Buzz, The Reporters and On the Fly. KMSP also developed a signature website at myfox9.com.

In making the announcement, Jack Abernethy, Fox Television Stations CEO, said:“Carol has been a successful leader and respected colleague whose 17-year career with Fox is filled with many accomplishments. We want to thank her for her many years of dedication and wish her much happiness in her retirement. I am disappointed that she is leaving us but respect her decision and she will be truly missed.”

Rueppel will be succeeded by Sheila Oliver, the KMSP-WFTC VP and director of sales, a position she has held for 12 years. Effective Dec. 8, Oliver will be responsible for overseeing all the stations’ business and operations.

Abernethy said: “Over the last 13 years with Fox, Sheila has proved herself as a results-driven, strategic and thoughtful executive. She gets our business and understands what it takes to differentiate ourselves from our competitors.”

Prior to Oliver’s current position, she was VP-general sales manager of KSAZ-KUTP, the Fox-owned duopoly in Phoenix.

Previously, she spent nearly three years as VP-GM of WCGV and WVTV, the Sinclair-owned duopoly in Milwaukee. Before that, she was VVP-GM of WTVR Richmond, Va., and VP-GM of WUPW Toledo, Ohio.

Earlier, Oliver spent eight years with Ellis Communications, first as local sales manager, and later as general sales manager at WUPW. She began her broadcast career at WJLB Radio in Detroit.

A graduate of Michigan State University, Oliver holds a Bachelor of Arts in telecommunications and a Bachelor of Arts in French.