Barbara Maushard has been named news director of WESH-TV, the NBC affiliate serving the Orlando-Daytona-Melbourne market.

Bill Bauman, president and general manager of WESH-TV, made the announcement on Tuesday.

Maushard has had a long and distinguished career with WESH-TV's parent company Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., including six years at WISN-TV in Milwaukee.

Under Maushard’s stewardship, WISN-TV achieved extraordinary ratings growth, launched seven and a half hours of local news programming and was honored with both the Peabody and Edward R. Murrow national awards.

Prior to Milwaukee, Maushard worked in news management roles for Hearst-Argyle stations in Fort Smith, Ark., and Kansas City, Mo.

She also held broadcast news positions at WCMH-TV in Columbus, Ohio, WMAR-TV in Baltimore and WHOI-TV in Peoria, Ill.

"Barb Maushard is one of the most highly regarded news directors in the country because of her tremendous leadership skills," Bauman said. "She has a history of success because she has a passion for news. She is the right person at the right time to lead the WESH newsroom, and we are all excited that she has accepted this challenge."

"This is a remarkable opportunity," Maushard said. "Orlando is a highly competitive TV news market, and Bill's leadership has earned WESH its reputation as an outstanding television station. I look forward to partnering with him to best serve the information needs of our Central Florida communities."

Maushard is a 1989 graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.

She begins her new job as news director at WESH-TV on Sept. 5.