Florida News Center

Sources tell Florida News Center that Sarasota’s WWSB parted ways with News Director Gene Ross earlier this week. There is no word on who will fill Ross’ vacancy. The station has already listed the opening on its website.

No reason was given for Ross’ sudden departure. However, his departure comes just weeks after Jeff Benninghoff was named VP and General Manager at the station.

Are more changes coming to WWSB? Stay tuned to Florida News Center for the latest.

(edited from WWSB Press Release) – Jeff Whitson, Vice President and General Manager of WWSB-TV, announced today that Gene Ross has been hired as News Director of ABC 7.  Ross will join the station on June 15th, 2010.  Gene Ross brings a wealth of television news experience to ABC 7, having been a News Director in Jacksonville, FL, Albany, NY, Las Vegas, NV, Fresno, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and Assistant News Director at KGO ABC 7 in San Francisco during his 30 year news career.  
 
Ross has been credited with successfully improving news operations and ratings at a number of the news departments under his management, including KLAS-TV CBS 8 in Las Vegas and WXXA-TV FOX23 News in Albany, NY where Ross and Whitson worked together.  Whitson said, “I have all the confidence in the world in Gene Ross and his ability to take ABC 7 News to the next level.  We share the same vision and commitment to serving the community with quality news and weather coverage on-air and online.”
 
Ross said, “I’m excited to be joining WWSB-TV where covering local news is a top priority, and I’m looking forward to living and working on the Suncoast.”