It’s an iconic ABC affiliate long known for playing host to presidential debates ahead of the New Hampshire primaries. Now, this Hearst Television property has a new General Manager, and she’s a 30-year veteran of the station.
Alisha McDevitt will now serve as President/GM of WMUR-9 in Manchester, N.H., rising from News Director.
McDevitt, who in July will celebrate 30 years at WMUR, succeeds Andrew Vrees, who recently became President/GM of Hearst’s flagship property, WCVB-5 in Boston.
McDevitt reports to EVP and group head Kyle I. Grimes, an executive vice president and group head of Hearst Television who oversees the New England stations under President Michael J. Hayes.
“Alisha has been instrumental in the success of WMUR throughout her entire career in television,” said Hayes. “Her accomplishments overseeing the WMUR newsroom, building upon the station’s nationally recognized news brand, and forging deep relationships across New England made her the ideal person to lead this station which is so important to the region and the country.”
McDevitt joined WMUR full-time in 1995 after her graduation from college and was promoted to a role as the station’s political producer in 1998. She later became an assistant news director, in 2003, and rose to the role of News Director in 2009.
McDevitt serves on the board of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and on the ABC News Advisory Board. She was named the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters “Broadcaster of the Year” in 2019.
In addition to her degree from the University of New Hampshire, McDevitt is a graduate of the NAB’s 2023 Business Leadership Training program and the Hearst Management Institute, an executive leadership training program. McDevitt has also completed five Boston Marathons in support of Special Olympics of New Hampshire and Tedy’s Team.
