From Marketing To Sales, Rob Thomas Starts At KFSM

Rob Thomas starts a new job on Monday.

Thomas has spent all of his career in local TV as a marketing executive, leading marketing teams at stations in Little Rock, Ark., and Louisville, Ky.

But Monday, he starts as an account executive in sales at KFSM-KXNW, Tribune’s CBS and MyNetworkTV affiliates, respectively, in Fayetteville, Ark.

“This will be an opportunity to learn a side of the business that I’ve worked around but never in,” says Thomas.

I’ve known Rob Thomas since my days as VP of Marketing for Nexstar when he headed marketing at KARK in Little Rock.

And I’ve written about his accomplishments over the years, including the time his station’s household shares for the morning news went from an 18 to a 31 thanks to an 18-spot marketing campaign by Thomas and his staff.

But Monday, Thomas begins a new chapter in his career. One that comes with a major benefit.

“There’s no doubt I have much to learn,” says Thomas. “But I’m excited about the new challenges and the ability to live in the same area as our son.”

Thomas says he’s looking forward to challenging himself, and is thankful that local TV is still an awfully small business. It seems an AE at his last station in Louisville, WAVE, knew the sales manager who hired him in Fayetteville and was kind enough to go to bat for him.

If you know Thomas, that shouldn’t surprise you at all.