KGO Appointed Dan Rasmussen as New News Director
The veteran KABC leader moves to the Bay Area station this October following a leadership vacancy.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in People
Viewers and staff at KGO will see new leadership at the station as ABC has tapped Dan Rasmussen to serve as the new News Director. He makes the jump to the San Francisco market from his current post as Assistant News Director at KABC.
Why it matters
The change follows the departure of former News Director Tracey Watkowski in June 2026. Stability in the newsroom remains a key point of interest for local residents who rely on the station for regional coverage.
This appointment marks 1 new leadership change at the station following the exit of the previous director in June 2026. The specific transition timeline for the new role remains to be finalized.
The players
Dan Rasmussen
A veteran broadcaster and former Assistant News Director at KABC who has been named the new News Director for KGO.
KGO
A prominent San Francisco television station serving the Bay Area.
Tracey Watkowski
The former News Director at KGO who concluded her tenure with the station in June 2026.
The details
Dan Rasmussen joins the KGO newsroom as the new News Director after serving as the Assistant News Director at KABC. His move to the San Francisco station officially fills the executive position left open since June 2026. ABC is expected to formalize the details of the transition to local staff shortly.
Timeline
June 2026: ABC parted ways with former News Director Tracey Watkowski.
October 2026: Dan Rasmussen was appointed as the new News Director.
Across the Bay
This transition directly addresses the leadership gap created by the June 2026 departure of Tracey Watkowski. The appointment follows the station's established internal process for filling executive vacancies.
Local viewers can expect to see the impact of this change reflected in station management and broadcast operations in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on local news segments for shifts in coverage focus.
The takeaway
San Franciscans watching KGO should monitor the station for potential shifts in local reporting as new leadership takes the helm. Watch for upcoming announcements regarding the specific transition schedule for the new newsroom director.
Further reading
See more updates on local media leadership changes in San Francisco People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FTVLive.
