Fox Television Stations (FTS) has promoted two station leaders as regional leaders across multiple markets, while one of its general managers has announced her retirement.
KTTV Fox 11 general manager Amber Eikel has been named senior vice president and regional general manager of FTS’ California properties, including Oakland’s KTVU Fox 2 and KICU Channel 36 (KTVU+) and KCOP Fox 11+ in Los Angeles.
The current svp and gm of the Fox duopoly in the San Francisco market, Mellynda Hartel announced her retirement today after being with Fox Television Stations for 35 years.
In addition, Michael Lewis has been elevated to senior vice president and regional general manager, adding oversight of Seattle’s KCPQ Fox 13 and KZJO Fox 13+ to his current responsibilities as svp and gm of the Fox-owned duopoly in Phoenix (KSAZ Fox 10 and KUTP Fox 10 Xtra).
Both Eikel and Lewis will report to Jack Abernethy, chief executive officer of FTS.
“We would like to thank Mellynda for her hard work and dedication to FOX over the last 35 years, and congratulate her on a seasoned career of success across many markets,” said Abernethy. “Amber and Mike’s local news expertise have led to consistent high-quality results across multiple stations and their leadership will bring continued growth and innovation across all platforms as they usher in the new era in LA, San Francisco, Seattle, and Phoenix.”
Eikel was recently announced as senior vice president and regional general manager of FTS’s Los Angeles duopoly (KTTV FOX 11 and KCOP FOX 11+) in addition to her role as svp and gm of Seattle’s KCPQ Fox 13 and KZJO Fox 13+.
She spent over a decade at KTVU/ KICU in the San Francisco Bay Area where she held the roles of vp and news director, assistant news director, and managing editor. Eikel has also worked as executive producer at KIRO in Seattle and at KTNV in Las Vegas. She began her career as a producer, executive producer, and interim news director for KMIR in Palm Springs, California.
“Working closely with Mellynda and the accomplished team of KTVU journalists over the last decade has distinctly prepared me to take the reins as I deeply understand the San Francisco market and importance of these legacy stations to the communities they serve,” added Eikel.
Lewis has been with the Fox Television Stations for over 20 years. Since December 2022, he has served as svp and gmof the Fox-owned duopoly in Phoenix, consisting of KSAZ Fox 10 and KUTP Fox 10 Xtra. Before that, Lewis spent eleven years as senior vice president and general manager of KTBC, the Fox-owned station in Austin. He’s also been the vp and sales manager at KRIV/KTXH, the Fox-owned duopoly in Houston, and before that, served in the same role at WHBQ in Memphis. Lewis was a local and national sales manager at WTTG Fox 5 D.C.
“I welcome the opportunity to expand my role at this company with a duopoly that has a track record of success in the Seattle market and I look forward to working closely with their tremendous team of journalists to build upon that strength,” Lewis said,
