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.

Jim Clayton has been named interim president and general manager at WGHP, Local TV’s Fox affiliate in Greensboro, N.C., according to TVNewsCheck.

Clayton stepped down as general manager of KOMO in Seattle last year. Prior to his six years in Seattle, Clayton helmed WNYW, the Fox O&O in New York City.

Clayton temporarily replaces Karen Adams, who was recently named VP-GM of WJZY and WMYT, Fox’s anticipated duopoly in Charlotte.

Fox has named Karen Adams vice president and general manager of WJZY and WMYT in Charlotte. Fox is acquiring the duopoly from Capitol Broadcasting pending FCC approval.

Adams has been president and general manager of WGHP, the Fox affiliate in Greensboro, N.C., for the past 16 years. WGHP was a Fox O&O from 1996-2008.

“Karen has managed one of the most successful stations in the country. I couldn’t be happier to welcome her back,” Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy said in a statement.

Before being promoted to general manager, Adams held several other positions at WGHP, including VP of programming and VP of creative services and community involvement. Her first job at the station was as a camera operator.

“This is such a unique and exciting opportunity to run WJZY AND WMYT for FOX in Charlotte,” Adams said in a statement. “North Carolina is my home and I look forward to rejoining my FOX Television Station colleagues.”

Days after Providence’s WPRI bid farewell to retiring anchor Karen Adams, the CBS-affiliate is welcoming a new anchor to its team. WPRI announced today that Susan Roberts will join Mike Montecalvo at the anchor desk for the station’s 5, 6, and 11 p.m. newscasts.

Roberts comes to WPRI from CBS Newspath, where she worked as a D.C.-based correspondent. She has provided reports to shows across CBS’s news lineup, including “The Early Show” and the “CBS Evening News.”

Before joining CBS, Roberts was an anchor for D.C.’s WJLA. She is a graduate of Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana and carved out her career at stations throughout the south, including KATV in Little Rock and News Orleans stations WWL and WDSU.

She has twice been nominated for an Emmy and her reporting on the 9-11 attacks led to a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for WJLA. Her first day with WPRI will be January 17.

Video of Roberts reporting for CBS after the jump… Read more

Veteran anchor Karen Adams bid farewell to WPRI last week after nearly 22 years with the Providence CBS-affiliate.

“Rhode Island is where I call home, and I have been fortunate that our Eyewitness News viewers have allowed me into their homes every evening,” she said in December, announcing her retirement.  Adams, 55, anchored WPRI’s 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.

WPRI anchor Karen Adams has decided to step away from TV news after a decorated 35-year career in broadcasting.

“You don’t want to stay at the dance too long,” Adams, 55, told The Providence Journal about her decision to retire.

WPRI‘s news director Joe Abouzeid announced Adams’ retirement on Friday, saying that her final broadcast will be December 30.  Adams has been with the Providence CBS-affiliate for nearly 22 years, anchoring the station’s 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.

“Karen is a Rhode Island icon who has tremendous ties to the community,” Jay Howell, general manager of WPRI and its sister station WNAC, said.  “While we will miss her here at the stations, I know that Karen is excited to continue on with her community involvement, and we all wish her much continued success.”

“Rhode Island is where I call home, and I have been fortunate that our Eyewitness News viewers have allowed me into their homes every evening,” Adams said. Read more