Hearst has promoted John Soapes, who has served as general sales manager of the company’s Orlando CW-affiliate for the past decade, to president and general manager of WYFF, a NBC-affiliate serving the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville market.

“John is an outstanding broadcast executive, more than ready to take on the opportunity of leading WYFF,” said David Barrett, president and CEO of Hearst Television, adding that the company is “delighted to bring a native South Carolinian home.”

Soapes succeeds Michael Hayes, who was recently appointed to president and general manager of WTAE, Hearst’s Pittsburgh ABC-affiliate.

Soapes began his career as an account executive with WTAT in Charleston, SC.