WVIT (NBC CT) new VP of news, and some on-air moves

West Hartford station WVIT (NBC Connecticut) has named Matt Piacente of Chicago station WMAQ as the station’s vice president of news, replacing Mike St. Peter, who recently was named general manager

of New England Cable News, also owned by NBCUniversal.

“Matt’s robust experience overseeing breaking news, investigative reports, election coverage and severe weather make him a perfect fit to lead the NBC Connecticut news team,” said Ric Harris, NBC Connecticut president and GM who joined WVIT in May of last year.

Piacente starts work at NBC CT next week.

In other news Monday, Ayana Harry of WTIC (Fox CT), who covered a mix of news for the Hartford station, including happenings in and around New Haven, is moving on this week to WPIX in New York.

Former WTIC GM Rich Graziano, who oversaw the significant increase in WTIC's live news programming, last fall took the reins as GM of WPIX, so he no doubt had a role in choosing Harry, who is a Brooklyn product.

Harry, a Princeton grad, joined the station in January of 2011, about the same time as reporter Jeevan Vital and meteorologist Dan Amarante. Harry initially served as reporter on the then-new weekend morning shows at Fox Ct.

And versatile former WTNH sports guys Marc Robbins posted this news on his Facebook page, according to TheLaurel.com:

I’m very excited and proud to announce, I’ve joined the Sports Department at WFSB-TV, Channel 3 in Hartford! I’m going to be part of the award winning team that puts on the popular Friday Night Frenzy. It’s a privilege to be able to work with such a talented group. I’d also like to announce that I’ve added some responsibility at ESPN. I’m now going to be part of the stable of Radio Sportscenter Anchors! I’ll be doing Sportscenter on National Radio broadcasts at different times throughout the week...