Veteran television stations executive Jay Howell has been named President and General Manager of the CBS Television Stations’ Los Angeles properties, KCBS-TV, KCAL-TV, CBSLA.com and the newly launched CBSN Los Angeles, a local direct-to-consumer streaming news service. The announcement was made today by Peter Dunn, President, CBS Television Stations. Howell is succeeding Steve Mauldin, who retired from CBS at the end of May following 20-plus years with the Company’s station group and nearly 10 years at the helm of CBS 2 and KCAL 9.

Howell, who has 20 years of experience as a general manager and station group executive, was born in Palm Springs, Calif. and grew up in nearby Palm Desert. He is returning to Southern California after having served as Vice President and General Manager of the CBS Television Stations’ Pittsburgh properties, KDKA-TV, WPCW-TV and CBSPittsburgh.com, since July 2018. Prior to that, he was the Vice President and General Manager of the Company’s Sacramento properties, KOVR-TV, KMAX-TV and CBSSacramento.com, since August 2017.

Before joining the CBS Television Stations family, Howell served as Vice President of Broadcast Markets for Media General, where he oversaw the company’s station operations, including several CBS affiliates, in 14 markets across the country. Prior to leaving Media General in 2017 when the sale of the company to Nexstar was finalized, Howell spent four years as a member of the CBS Affiliates Board.

“Jay is a talented and experienced leader who has received high praise from co-workers, clients and community partners everywhere he has been during the last two decades,” Dunn said. “Wherever Jay goes, success grows! Based in large part on the terrific job he has done for us in both Sacramento and Pittsburgh, we are excited to have Jay return to California, where we expect his energetic and collaborative leadership style will be embraced by everyone at KCBS, KCAL, CBSLA.com and CBSN Los Angeles, as well as all of the viewers and clients who are served by these great stations.”

“Being back in Pittsburgh, where my dad taught me about the local stations business, my wife and I went to college, and we have so many great connections to family and friends, has been a dream come true,” Howell said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with everyone at KDKA and WPCW. We accomplished so much in a short period of time, and I am confident that we are poised to achieve much more in the months and years to come.”

“Leaving Pittsburgh creates a lot of bittersweet emotions. However, the opportunity to return to California and work with our great team in Los Angeles is too great to pass up – especially when the move brings us close to several family members.”

Howell learned the local stations business from his father John, the General Manager of WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh from 1984-2001. His mother, Kathy, lives in Orange County. His daughter, Lilly, currently attends USC.

Howell’s background also includes more than 13 years with LIN Media, most recently as Vice President, Television (2013-14), where he oversaw operations for 46 stations in 23 markets. Prior to that, he was a Regional Vice President, Television (2012-13), with responsibility for 13 stations in seven markets. He previously served 11 years as vice president and general manager of WPRI-TV (CBS) and WNAC-TV (Fox), which at the time were the LIN-owned stations serving Providence, R.I. and New Bedford, Mass. He began his station management career as the general manager of KRBC-TV in Abilene, Texas and KACB-TV in San Angelo, Texas.

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in managerial economics and industrial management, Howell spent the first 10 years of his career with WTOV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio.

He and his wife Lori are the parents of two children, John and Lilly.

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