BOSTON -- WCVB-TV/DT Channel 5 announced today that Andrew Vrees has been named News Director of WCVB-TV/DT Channel 5 and TheBostonChannel.com. The announcement was made by WCVB President and General Manager Bill Fine. Vrees has been the News Director at WCVB sister-station WMUR-TV, Manchester since 2004. WCVB and WMUR are owned by Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.

In announcing Vrees's promotion, Fine said, “Andrew Vrees has impressed me from the moment I first met him leading the presidential primary coverage for WMUR.” Fine added, “His passion for news, expertise in multi-platform news generation and excellent record of accomplishment, make him a great addition to NewsCenter 5. Andrew is the absolute right journalist to lead Boston's No. 1 news team.”

Vrees brings extensive experience in local television and multimedia coverage. He has spearheaded WMUR and WMUR.com’s award-winning political initiatives, including strategic partnerships with ABC and CNN to produce four nationally televised debates in the historic 2008 Presidential election. In his tenure at WMUR, Vrees was instrumental in developing strategic plans for news growth that resulted in the station frequently besting some of the other Boston stations in key day parts.

Vrees said, “WCVB is a television station with a rich history and an incredible reputation. I couldn’t be more excited and proud to join the team at NewsCenter 5.” He continued, “This is an opportunity to be part of one of the very best news operations in the country.”

During his time at WMUR, Vrees oversaw continuous coverage of breaking news and the region’s challenging weather, including three historic floods, a deadly tornado and the most devastating ice storm in the region’s history. In addition to captaining WMUR’s daily newsroom operations, Vrees was leading the HATV group in developing next generation newsroom efforts.

In the evolving digital arena, Vrees has been instrumental in developing unique user experiences on wmur.com and was successful in engaging young users on the site and complimenting television news coverage on WMUR. His leadership on multimedia issues has spanned the Hearst-Argyle Television group of stations. WMUR is a test market for new products such as ulocal, a user generated news gathering tool.

Prior to WMUR, Vrees was the Assistant News Director at HTV’s KOAT-TV/KOAT.com in Albuquerque, NM, and WTVG/13abc.com in Toledo, OH. He began his broadcast career as an anchor/reporter at KTVF-TV, Fairbanks, AK, and also worked in that capacity at KSWO, Lawton, OK/Wichita Falls, TX and KTUU, Anchorage, AK.

A multiple Emmy, Associated Press, SPJ and State Broadcasters Association Awards winner, Vrees has also been a key part of newsrooms recognized twice by the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards for Overall Excellence. He also serves on the RTNDA Board of Directors.

A native New Englander, Vrees was born in Boston and raised in New Hampshire. A graduate of the University of Southern California, he is married with two young children.

His appointment is effective March 23.