Michael J. Hayes has been named senior vice president and group head of Hearst Television.

Hayes comes from WTAE, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh, where he has been president and general manager since 2011. Before that, he spent eight years as general manager of WYFF, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Greenville, S.C.

“In every step of his career with Hearst Television he’s been a high performer, and we are delighted that he’ll be joining our talented management team in New York to work with our stations and help us compete at an even higher level in the years ahead,” Hearst Television CEO David J. Barrett said in a statement.

Hayes’ promotion is effective June 1. His replacement at WTAE will be named at a later date.

After almost 25 years with Granite Broadcasting, WKBW general manager Bill Ransom will retire next month.

“He has been a positive voice for our company, the broadcasting profession and Buffalo, and will be truly missed,” Granite COO Duane Lammers said in a statement. “We wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life.”

Ransom has been general manager of the Buffalo ABC affiliate since 1995. Prior to that, he was the general sales manager of WPTA, Granite’s ABC affiliate in Fort Wayne, Ind.

“I am truly grateful to have had the privilege of working with Granite’s talented and committed team members, and am honored to have led our Buffalo station, WKBW, for the last 18 years,” Ransom said in a statement.

After 11 years as general manager of KFOX, John Witte retired from the El Paso Fox affiliate on Friday, according to the El Paso Times.

Witte has worked at KFOX since 1996. His retirement comes months before the arrival of his first grandchild. “I am looking forward to that,” Witte told the El Paso Times. “My grandchild will be here in August. But this has been difficult. This has been my family for 18 years.”

KFOX is being acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group. News director Elizabeth O’Hara said a new general manager has yet to be named.

Ric Harris has been promoted to president and general manager of WVIT, the NBC-owned station in Hartford-New Haven.

Harris joined WVIT in March as vice president of sales. Prior to that, he spent two years at Accenture, where he was manager of communications, media and technology. From 2005-07, he was EVP and general manager of digital media and strategic marketing for the NBC-owned stations. Prior to that, he was VP-GM of WEWS in Cleveland.

“Ric Harris loves the local TV business and is committed to becoming a strong part of the communities in Connecticut we serve. He already knows what a great group of people we have at our station in Hartford, and as Vice President of Sales, has become an important addition to that team,” Valari Staab, president of the NBC Owned Stations, said in a statement. Read more

J. Roger Powe III has been named interim general manager at WMGM, the NBC affiliate in Wildwood-Atlantic City, N.J., according to The Press of Atlantic City.

Powe has been the station’s general sales manager since 2005. He replaces Ron Smith, who plans “to take it easy for awhile” after a decade as WMGM’s general manager.

“It’s been very gratifying to see the station grow the way it has and the improvements we’ve been able to make. I certainly wish it a long bright future,” Smith told The Press of Atlantic City.

Richard Engberg has been named vice president and general manager of WMBD, Nexstar Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate in Peoria, Ill. In his new role, Engberg will also oversee WYZZ, Sinclair’s Fox affiliate in the market, which Nexstar operates through a local marketing agreement.

Engberg most recently worked for Univision, where he was vice president and director of sales for KTVW-KFPH in Phoenix and KVUE-KFTU in Tucson. He previously worked in various leadership and sales positions at WSFL in Miami, WPEC in West Palm Beach and WCIU and WFLD in Chicago.

“I will leverage the management experience and relationships built over my career to further strengthen the stations’ position as a leading provider of the most compelling news and entertainment programming in the market,” Engberg said in a statement.

Engberg’s appointment is effective immediately. He replaces Dan Bates.

Nick Roberts has been named vice president of marketing for Cox Media Group Ohio. In his new role, Roberts will “oversee the strategic marketing activities of CMG Ohio’s integrated brands, drive product development and accelerate media platform convergence,” according to a CMG Ohio press release.

Roberts joined the company in 1997 and most recently served as the regional director of programming for CMG’s Ohio and Louisville radio stations. He replaces former vice president of marketing Donna Hall, who was recently promoted to group vice president at Cox Media Atlanta.

Cox Media Group Ohio oversees several newspapers and radio stations, as well as Dayton CBS affiliate WHIO.

J Warren Hockaday has been named general manager at KIEM, the NBC affiliate in Eureka, Calif., according to The Times-Standard.

Hockaday is a former news director of KVIQ, the CBS affiliate in Eureka. For the past 14 years, he has been president and CEO of the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce. He will continue to remain in both roles temporarily.

“We’re very excited to have J taking over at News Channel 3,”  KIEM owner Bill Pollack said in a statement. “He has deep roots in Humboldt County, knows the community well and is widely respected. I am confident he’ll do a great job for us.”

Hockaday replaces Roy Frostenson, who is joining the University of Mississippi.

John Cardenas has been named vice president of news for Dispatch Broadcast Group and president and general manager of WBNS, the company’s CBS affiliate in Columbus.

It is a return to the station for Cardenas, who was news director at WBNS from 1999-2010. For the past three years, he has been general manager of WTHR, Dispatch’s NBC affiliate in Indianapolis. In his new role, he will oversee both stations.

“We are thrilled that John will be returning to Columbus where I’m sure he will build upon the market leadership of 10TV and will take the executive lead of our broadcast news operations in Columbus and Indianapolis,” Dispatch Broadcast Group CEO Michael J. Fiorile said in a statement.

Cardenas replaces Tom Griesdorn, who will retire from WBNS in June after 14 years as president and general manager.

“It’s an honor to come back home to Columbus, yet still be involved in the award-winning journalism being done at both stations,” Cardenas said.

Fox has made two executive appointments at anticipated Charlotte duopoly WJZY-WMYT. Jay Abbattista will be vice president of sales and Lynda Grahl will be vice president of finance.

Both Abbattista and Grahl come from Fox O&Os. Abbattista, who will begin on April 29, was previously the local sales manager at Fox-owned WTTG in Washington, D.C. He has also worked at a previous Fox O&O, WBRC in Birmingham, as general sales manager.

“Jay has a proven track record of success, having worked in a variety of sales positions across many markets,” VP-GM Karen Adams said in a statement. “His drive and passion made him the ideal candidate; I am delighted to welcome him to our team.”

Grahl, who begins on April 22, has been the vice president finance for Fox’s Detroit O&O, WJBK, since 2008.

“My family and I are very excited to be moving to the Charlotte community; I can’t wait to begin working with the team at our duopoly stations,” Grahl said.