TEGNA Appoints Brian Gregory to Lead North Carolina Stations

The media company names broadcast veteran Brian Gregory as president and general manager of WCNC and WFMY.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration featuring a geometric communication tower, representing media leadership and institutional change. — TEGNA has appointed broadcast veteran Brian Gregory as the new president and general manager of its North Carolina stations, WCNC and WFMY. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Does a change in station leadership change your trust in the local news you receive?

TEGNA has appointed Brian Gregory as the president and general manager of WCNC in Charlotte and WFMY in Greensboro. He takes over the role from Joan Barrett, who is transitioning into a new position as a group general manager for the company.

Why it matters

This leadership change centralizes oversight for two of the company's key North Carolina television stations under a single executive. The move follows a broader corporate restructuring as TEGNA continues to manage its extensive portfolio of local news outlets.

TEGNA operates 64 television stations across 51 U.S. markets. The newly appointed lead, Brian Gregory, brings nearly 30 years of broadcast experience to his new role.

The players

Brian Gregory

He is the newly appointed president and general manager of WCNC and WFMY with three decades of industry experience.

Joan Barrett

She is the former president and general manager of WCNC and WFMY who is moving into a group general manager role.

TEGNA

This is a major media company based in McLean, Virginia, that operates 64 television stations.

Nexstar Media Group

This is the parent organization that owns TEGNA as a subsidiary.

The details

In his new capacity, Gregory is responsible for station operations, content strategy, sales, and digital and streaming initiatives. He previously served as a news director at KDVR and KWGN in Denver and held leadership roles at KWCH, CBS13, and WVLT.

TEGNA announced Brian Gregory's appointment on October 28, 2026.
A court issued a Hold Separate Order regarding TEGNA and Nexstar on April 17, 2026.

Market Landscape

This leadership appointment aligns with the regulatory framework established by the April 2026 court Hold Separate Order regarding TEGNA and Nexstar. The shift positions the stations to maintain operations amid the broader consolidation trends within the regional broadcast sector.

Local viewers of WCNC and WFMY should expect continued coverage as Gregory assumes control of operations and content strategy. The change aims to stabilize regional leadership while the stations navigate the company's current ownership structure.

The takeaway

Effective leadership transitions in local media are essential for maintaining station performance and audience trust during times of corporate change. Viewers can monitor upcoming broadcast schedules to see if the station's local content strategy evolves under the new administration.