Sarah Smith New GM Of KMBC-KCWE

Sarah Smith, who since 2007 has been president and General Manager of KETV, Hearst Television’s ABC affiliate in Omaha, Neb. (DMA 76), today was named president-GM of Hearst’s Kansas City (DMA 31) duopoly of KMBC (ABC) and KCWE (CW).

Smith, whose appointment is effective Sept. 6, succeeds Wayne Godsey, who in June announced his planned retirement after serving as head of KMBC-KCWE since 1999, and more than four decades in broadcasting. A successor to Smith at KETV will be announced at a future date.

Before joining Hearst at KETV, Smith was VP_GM of both KRCR Chico-Redding and KAEF Eureka, both California. Before that, she was general sales manager of KVUE Austin, Texas, and, previously, was national sales manager of WFAA Dallas and regional sales manager of KXTV Sacramento, Calif.

She also was local sales manager of WISH Indianapolis. Smith began her career as a local account executive at Belo’s KOTV Tulsa, before moving to Los Angeles as an account executive for the national broadcast sales representation firm Telerep, where she was responsible for spot sales for 22 TV stations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois.