The Walt Disney Company has appointed David Wurtzel as President and General Manager of ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco, placing him in charge of day-to-day operations and business strategy for the ABC Owned Television Stations’ Bay Area outlet.
Mr. Wurtzel, a nearly 20-year veteran of Disney, most recently served as Vice President of Operations and Business Planning for ABC’s Los Angeles and Fresno stations. In that role, he led rights negotiations for special programming including the LA Pride Parade and LA Rams preseason football, and oversaw financial reporting, strategic planning, and labor relations.
Before joining Disney, Wurtzel held audit roles at Sony Pictures Entertainment and Ernst & Young. He holds an M.B.A. from Loyola Marymount University and a B.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is a licensed CPA in Massachusetts and sits on the board of the Media Financial Management Association.
ABC Owned Television Stations President Chad Matthews commented, “His strong analytical skills, proven track record of achieving ambitious goals, and commitment to operational excellence have enabled him to tackle critical business challenges and initiate transformational projects. I know he will leverage his expertise and vision to enhance the station’s continued success in providing the highest quality local news.”
Wurtzel said, “The KGO team is regularly singled out for overall excellence – most recently by the Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards – for very good reason. From in-depth stories about the impact of climate change and severe weather to hard-hitting investigations into government corruption and powerful documentary storytelling, they have distinguished themselves by reporting on complex issues of vital interest to Bay Area residents with the utmost care, thoroughness and professionalism. I look forward to working with them to further enhance and leverage the tremendous work they do across linear, streaming and social platforms.”
