Raycom Ups Sandy Breland To Group VP

Sandy Breland, VP-GM of Raycom Media’s Fox affiliate WVUE New Orleans (DMA 51), has been promoted to group vice president. Breland will be taking on this new role as long-time Group VP Leon Long retires at the end of January. Tim Ingram, currently the GM at Raycom Media’s KFVS and WQWQ in Cape Girardeau, Mo., replaces Breland at WVUE.

Paul McTear, president-CEO of Raycom Media, said: “Leon Long has been instrumental in the success of Raycom Media stations and we appreciate his 46 years serving the industry. With the retirement of Leon, we are fortunate as a company to be able to turn to one of our own leaders to fill this role. Sandy has time and time again proven herself to be a strong and competent leader. With her knowledge and expertise we continue to raise the bar of success for our stations and our company.”

Sandy Breland joined Raycom Media in July of 2008 as VP-GM of WAFB-WBXH Baton Rouge, La. Breland served 11 years as executive news director of WWL-TV, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans where she was honored with Peabody, duPont and National Murrow awards for her planning and execution of WWL’s coverage during Hurricane Katrina. Breland has also been honored with RTNDF’s First Amendment Award and the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award for public service.

Breland had the opportunity to return to her hometown in December 2013 when Raycom Media began managing WVUE through a shared services agreement with Louisiana Media Co.

Breland serves on the LSU Manship Board of Visitors and is chairman of the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. She holds a BA in journalism from Loyola University-New Orleans. She has also attended continuing education sessions at Columbia University’s Sulzberger Leadership Program, Missouri University’s Management Program for Broadcast Professional and the Poynter Institute.