WBBM-Channel 2 boss is out after investigation of misconduct at CBS

An investigation into misconduct at CBS stations has cost the general manager of Chicago’s WBBM-Channel 2 his job.

According to Deadline, an email to staff from Wendy McMahon, president of CBS Television Stations and other divisions, said Derek Dalton has departed as part of the probe.

“After six months of an extremely thorough and exhaustive review of our organization and culture, I am writing to let you know the external investigation into leadership at our Stations has concluded and, as a result, we will be seeking new general managers for our Los Angeles and Chicago stations,” McMahon wrote Thursday.

A search for new general managers at both stations has begun, she said. Dalton had run WBBM since 2018.

Deadline also quoted an email from CBS Entertainment Group chief George Cheeks saying the investigation, by the law firm Proskauer Rose, concerned “allegations of misconduct by leadership at the Stations group” and uncovered “painful revelations about experiences that we cannot tolerate today or in the future.”

The investigation was prompted by a January report in the Los Angeles Times alleging racist and misogynist behavior among CBS station leadership.

“While the investigation largely looked at events in the past, and the issues revealed were more pronounced in certain areas and at specific stations than others,” Cheeks wrote, “there are clear themes that we need to address moving forward: our diversity, equity and inclusion standards need to be a top priority for leadership in every corner of our Stations business; our workplace culture needs to measurably improve; and, your trust needs to be restored with your CBS leaders.”