It wasn’t that long ago when if you invited all the general managers at the CBS O&O’s into a meeting, you would have been for the most part looking at older white guys sitting at the conference room table.

The GM’s from CBS stations in Philly, Chicago, LA, Denver, Miami, Dallas, and others would all be white guys. The only person that would not have looked like the others was WJZ (Baltimore) General Manager Audra Swain. Swain continues to be a rising star and very good at her job. We would not be surprised at seeing her role increase at CBS.

But, since CBS ousted O&O President Peter Dunn, we have seen the faces change at the O&O’s and it is refreshing.

FTVLive told you that CBS announced that Raquel Amparowill is taking over the O&O in Dallas.

Darryll Green who is Black was named the GM at WFOR in Miami. Another Black man, Johnny Green Jr. is now running WCBS in New York.

And now CBS has named Joel Vilmenay, another Black man to run KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles. He takes over for Jay Howell, who CBS fired after an investigation.

“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to join the ViacomCBS team and move to Southern California,” Vilmenay said. “My wife, daughter, son and I are excited to relocate and reconnect with our family and dear friends who live there, and I’m looking forward to working with Wendy, Jennifer and the entire CBS Los Angeles team. I’m especially pleased to come on board just as CBS News and Stations is taking shape as a newly combined entity. I consider this a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best in the business in front of a blank canvas and help create a brighter future for my colleagues, as well as our community and business partners.”

It took way too long, but the fact that CBS is finally bringing in more women and people of color to lead their stations is an encouraging sign.

We for one applaud the effort by CBS in trying to put more diversity into leadership roles at the company.