Audrey Farrington, who for nine years served as vice president and general manager of Fox40 (KTXL), announced to the staff today that she will leave her position in two weeks.
Farrington declined to be interviewed, but sent a statement to The Bee via e-mail.
"It's my decision," she wrote. "I'm proud of what we have accomplished during my tenure and I leave a terrific team in place. I wish everyone well moving forward."
She did not detail her future plans.
The Tribune company, Fox40's owner, did not make Ed Wilson, president of Tribune Broadcasting, available to discuss the specifics of Farrington's departure or to talk about when a replacement for her will be named.
But Wilson, through a spokesman, released a statement of his own: "Over the last few weeks, Audrey's thought a lot about her role at KTXL-TV and come to the conclusion that she wants to resign from her duties as general manager. She's been with the station as GM since 1999 and, before that, spent 10 years there as director of programming and creative services. Her commitment to the station was unquestionable and we wish her the best."
Farrington has worked for KTXL for nearly 20 years, including 10 as the station's program director and creative services and promotions director. For two years, she was the director of programming at KTLA in Los Angeles, but returned in 1999 when Mike Fisher resigned as the station's general manager.
Station sources say Farrington's departure was not related to the recent takeover of the Tribune company by flamboyant billionaire Sam Zell, who visited the Fox40 newsroom about a month ago. In recent months, Fox40 has added reporters for its 10 p.m. newcast, hired a morning meteorologist and revamped its Website to feature videos.
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