Gerry McGavick, Hearst Television’s Vice President of Sales, will retire at the end of the year, concluding a four-decade career in advertising and broadcast television that included nearly 20 years at the company’s ABC affiliate in New Hampshire.
McGavick has spent the past five years overseeing revenue generation across Hearst Television’s platforms, working with advertising agencies, national sales representation firms and other business partners. He has also supervised the company’s political advertising sales since 2017, drawing on experience developed during his tenure at ABC affiliate WMUR (Channel 9) in Manchester, New Hampshire.
“Working at Hearst Television has been the pinnacle of my career and I sincerely thank senior leadership for creating a culture and environment where I have been able to thrive,” McGavick said in a statement on Monday. “While I am excited about my future, I will miss regularly seeing the great friends I’ve made and being a part of this outstanding company.”
No successor was named in Hearst’s announcement.
McGavick joined Hearst Television’s corporate sales leadership after serving as Director of Sales at WMUR, where he spent nearly two decades managing advertising operations in a state that draws significant political advertising spending during presidential election cycles.
Before joining WMUR, McGavick worked as General Sales Manager at Boston’s WLVI (Channel 56), now a CW affiliate. He began his advertising career as a media planner at Jordan McGrath Case & Taylor before moving to Harrington Righter & Parsons, a New York-based television advertising sales representation firm. His connection to broadcast advertising extends to his family. His father served as General Sales Manager and Director of Sales at Boston’s ABC affiliate WCVB (Channel 5), now owned by Hearst Television, between 1972 and 1984.
In addition to his sales responsibilities, McGavick has overseen Hearst Television’s Sales Account Associate program, a year-long training initiative that places prospective sales executives with local advertising teams across the company’s television markets. The program is intended to prepare participants for positions as advertising account executives.
McGavick has also held leadership positions with several broadcast industry organizations. He currently serves on the board of the International Radio and Television Society and previously served on the boards of the Nielsen Local Alliance and the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters, where he was Chairman from 2015 to 2017.
He also served on the board of Drug Free New Hampshire. A graduate of Stonehill College, McGavick holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and completed the Hearst Management Institute’s executive leadership program.
“Gerry holds a breadth of relationships and a depth of knowledge within the local television sales community which is unrivaled,” Michael J. Hayes, the President of Hearst Television, said in a statement. “His political advertising acumen coupled with his warmth and ability to connect with people has grown our relationships with advertisers and agencies.”
McGavick is the second Hearst executive to announce their retirement over the past two weeks. Last week, Hearst’s Vice President of Finance Stanley Herriott announced he was leaving the company after eight years.
