Chris Wayland To Succeed Valari Staab As President Of NBCUniversal Local

Chris Wayland will succeed Valari Staab as president of NBCUniversal Local, overseeing NBC and Telemundo local stations and other outlets.

Staab disclosed her plans to retire earlier this year, and will work with Wayland in the coming weeks, with the transition before the end of the year, according to Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCU News Group.

In addition to 11 NBC stations and 31 Telemundo stations, NBCU Local also includes four regional sports networks, three national multicast networks and 17 streaming channels, along with LXTV Productions and Skycastle.

Wayland joined NBCU in 2019, and has led NBC10 Boston, Telemundo Boston and NBC Sports Boston. Conde wrote in a memo to staffers that Wayland “has been instrumental in the growth of NBC10 and was a key leader in the development and launch of the NBCUniversal Boston Media Center.”

“Chris understands the power and importance of local media, and I know he will be an outstanding leader for NBCUniversal Local,” Conde wrote.

Staab has been with NBCU for more than 15 years and has spent 46 years in local TV and journalism.

“Under her leadership, what began as 10 NBC-owned stations grew into NBCUniversal Local’s nationwide, multiplatform portfolio of 50 media properties,” Conde wrote.

“Her impact can be seen not only in the organization she helped build, but in the generations of broadcasters and leaders she has supported and developed along the way,” he wrote.

In a statement, Staab said, “What gives me the greatest confidence is knowing that Chris leads with both vision and heart. He values our people, our culture, and the relationships that have been foundational to our success.”

Wayland previously was an executive at Tribune Media, Sinbeam Television and WHDH-TV.