Nexstar Broadcasting has announced Leo Henning will be vice president and general manager of KOZL, an independent station in Springfield, MO, effective immediately. Henning will also oversee KOLR, Mission Broadcasting’s CBS-affiliate, which Nexstar operates under a joint operating agreement.

Henning comes from Saukview Media, where he is the president and CEO. Prior to that, he spent five years at Barrington Broadcasting, where he was group head of several stations, including WNWO in Toledo, KRCG in Columbia, WHOI in Peoria, KHQA in Hannibal, WLUC in Marquette and KTVO in Kirksland. Before joining Barrington, Henning spent 33 years at Quincy Newspapers’ Broadcast Group.

“With his local broadcasting expertise, strong client relationships, and dedication to the local communities he has served for many years in the Ozarks and Midwest, we are confident that Leo is the ideal person to lead KOZL’s television and e-media operations,” Nexstar COO Brian Jones said in a statement.

WRC sports anchor Hakem Dermish is leaving the NBC O&O to join ESPN, a station spokesperson confirmed to TVSpy.

Dermish signed off from WRC last night after five years at the Washington, DC station. Prior to joining WRC, Dermish worked at WTVG in Toledo and WLUC in Marquette, MI.

News of the ESPN hire was first reported by dcrtv.com.

Dermish will join former WRC colleague Lindsay Czarniak at ESPN. A spokesperson for WRC said the station is committed to local sports coverage and actively looking to fill the two open sports anchor positions.