Granite Makes Management Promotions

Granite Broadcasting Corp. today announced the appointment of Jerry Giesler as vice president of platform integration and management; Dan Hoffman as vice president of sales; Mark DeSantis as vice president of promotion and marketing; and Peter Neumann as director of content strategy and news operations. Effective immediately, the appointments are designed to improve the sales, promotions, marketing and content at each of Granite's stations, the company said.

"Over the years, we have drawn from our station management teams to utilize their creative experience and expertise as we seek to improve all of our operations," said John Deushane, Granite's chief operating officer. "By enhancing the company's senior management with these invaluable individuals, we will be better positioned to implement our operating plan and to hyperserve each of our local communities. This is an extremely talented group of managers who will bring additional value to our already strong broadcast properties."

Giesler, vice president of platform integration and management, will work closely with other Granite stations as the company takes on management and/or ownership of additional properties in other markets. He recently led the integration of five channels in Fort Wayne, Ind., as executive vice president of Fort Wayne Operations (ABC, NBC, CW, MNT and Wx+). As part of his new assignment, Giesler will oversee Granite's Duluth, Minn., television platform.

As the new vice president of sales, Hoffman will develop wide-ranging sales standards, promote innovation and assist stations in their efforts to surpass their markets and revenue targets. In addition, he will continue to lead the sales operation at Indiana's NewsCenter.

DeSantis, the new vice president of promotion and marketing, will oversee promotion and marketing, brand strategies, and research projects for all of Granite's stations. He will continue to serve as president-general manager of WEEK Peoria, Ill.

Neumann, director of content strategy and news operations, will help shift the company to the same multilevel information delivery system he created at Indiana's NewsCenter.