Rebecca Campbell, president of the ABC O&Os has named William Burton the new president and GM at KGO-TV in San Francisco. Burton, an almost-lifer at ABC, has been with the company since the Cap Cities days as a promotions writer/producer at WPVI in Philadelphia.

Since 2006, Burton has led ABC’s O&O digital media initiatives. Before that, from 1994-2006, Burton was VP of Programming and Director of Creative Services at KABC in Los Angeles. He got his start in TV at KUSA in Denver as a promotions writer/producer.

Burton takes over for Valari Dobson Staab who left ABC for NBC in April where she oversees NBC’s O&Os as president of NBC Local Media group.

Valari Dobson Staab, currently the general manager of ABC O&O KGO, has been appointed president of NBC Local Media group, replacing John Wallace, who has been promoted to NBCUniversal Media Works, a unit that oversees the company’s technology and studio operations in addition to its real estate holdings.

Staab, who has been KGO’s GM since 2002, was considered a frontrunner to replace Walter Liss as president of ABC O&Os last year. That job ended up going to WABC’s Rebecca Campbell, prompting Staab to apparently look for job opportunities outside of the ABC stations group, where she has worked for 15 years.

“We’re thrilled to have an executive of Valari’s caliber join our Local Media group,” said NBC Broadcasting chairman Ted Harbert, in announcing the move. “Throughout her career in local television she’s had tremendous success growing the businesses she’s worked for and placing a premium on creating quality local news that resonates with viewers.” Read more