Hearst Television says Pam Barber will retire as the President and General Manager of its independent television station in the Tampa, Florida market.
Since 2015, Barber has led day-to-day operations at WMOR (Channel 32), with those duties shifting to WESH (Channel 2, NBC) President and General Manager John Soapes upon her retirement.
Barber has worked for Hearst Television for two decades, the company said in an announcement on Monday.
“Pam has been a fixture in Florida television with a track record of success,” said Michael J. Hayes, the President of Hearst Television. “Over her 20 years with Hearst Television, she has been an advocate for her team and the community she serves. We are honored and grateful for the outstanding work she has done in her collaborative and creative style.”
Barber said her 43-year career in broadcasting has been both fast-paced and rewarding.
“These 43 years went by fast in this industry,” Barber said in a statement. “It was rewarding and gratifying to be able to spend the second half of it with Hearst. I look forward to handing the reins over to my friend and colleague John Soapes, who has been such a valuable partner in our efforts to serve the viewers of Central Florida.”
Barber joined WMOR in 2006 as General Sales Manager and played a key role in strengthening the station’s position as a destination for entertainment and sports programming in the Tampa Bay market. She also helped bring Estrella TV to the region in 2009 to serve Spanish-language viewers, the company affirmed.
Earlier in her career, Barber served as Director of Sales at WFOR-TV in Miami and held multiple leadership roles at WTSP (Channel 10, CBS) in Tampa, where she rose from Local Account Executive in 1985 to General Sales Manager by 1998. She began her television sales career at WTOG (Channel 44) in Tampa in 1983.
Barber holds a business degree from Oakland University and has remained active in several industry and community organizations throughout her career.
