Debra O'Connell Named President of ABC National Television Sales

ABC executive Debra OConnell has been promoted to president of ABC National Television Sales, it was announced today by Rebecca Campbell, president of the ABC Owned Television Stations Group. She succeeds John Watkins, who previously announced that he will retire at the end of January.

ABC National Television Sales is the sales and marketing arm of the ABC Owned Television Stations Group. Ms. OConnell will be responsible for national advertising sales at ABC's eight owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno as well as their extensive digital platforms, The Live Well Network and ABC Regional Sports & Entertainment Sales. ABC National Television Sales has nine regional sales offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit and Boston.

"Debra is a fantastic executive, a great collaborator, and the perfect choice to head NTVS," said Ms. Campbell. "Her many years with ABC and her excellent reputation within the advertising industry, as well as her vision for the future of the division, are a huge asset for our company."

"I am thrilled to lead the best spot sales and marketing team for the top station group in the country," said Ms. OConnell. "I look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence in serving our advertisers with the most creative and innovative solutions in the industry."

Ms. OConnell has been with ABC for 17 years. She was previously senior Vice president of sales for ABC National Television Sales, a position to which she was named in 2011. Prior to that, she served as senior Vice president of Multimedia Sales and Marketing for the division from 2006-2011. She was also Vice president of Marketing at WABC-TV in New York, where she first joined the ABC Television division in 1999 after working at ABC Radio in Sales and Marketing.

She began her career as an account executive for two of Liberty Broadcasting's radio stations, and marketing director for DiCarlo Distributors.

Ms. OConnell serves as chairman of the Television Bureau of Advertising Sales Advisory Committee, as well as being an Executive Board Member, where she works with senior media & advertising executives to develop policy and new trends in the local broadcasting industry. She is also a member of Nielsen's Local Alliance Committee. Ms. OConnell is a mentor in The Walt Disney Company mentor program and is deeply involved in the ABC NTVS internship program.

Ms. OConnell graduated summa cum laude from Dowling College with a B.S. in Professional Studies and a Major in Marketing.