WBIR General Manager Jeff Lee To Retire

Jeff Lee, president-GM of Tegna’s NBC affiliate WBIR Knoxville, Tenn. (DMA 62), today announced his plans to retire at the end of 2016. Lee was named to his current post in August 1996.

“I have been fortunate to be with WBIR for 20 years,” said Lee. “WBIR is a terrific place to work. Our parent company, formerly Gannett, now Tegna, has been wonderful to our station. They give us the resources and encouragement we need to be our best. WBIR’s ‘Straight from the Heart’ brand means something, and the viewers hold us accountable for our brand. We try every day to make a difference in our community. We have loyal viewers, and for that reason can get results for our advertisers which in turn, helps them grow their businesses.”

Currently, Lee is a board member for the United Way of Greater Knoxville and the Knoxville Symphony Society. He is a graduate of the 1999 Leadership Knoxville Class. Lee was the 2002 campaign chairman and has served as chairman of the Board for the United Way of Greater Knoxville.

When asked about the future, Lee said, “This is my seventh —and my wife’s fifth — state, and it will be our last. We love our life here in Knoxville, and are not going anywhere.”