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NEW
YORK PARADE ANNOUNCES GRAND MARSHAL FOR ITS 251st PARADE.
NEW YORK, NY - Monday, October 17th 2011; The St Patrick's
Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce the selection of
the Grand Marshal for the 2012 New York City
St Patrick's Day Parade.
It will be Francis X. Comerford, Chief Revenue Officer and President of
Commercial Operations for NBC Owned Television Stations.
Francis X. Comerford will have the honor of leading the
251th consecutive New York City St Patrick's Day Parade up
Fifth Avenue on Saturday, March 17th, 2012.
Mr. Frank Comerford was born and raised in Brooklyn and
traces his Irish ancestry to County Kilkenny. He is active
in community affairs and has received numerous honors from
many organizations recognizing his lifelong endeavors.
The New York St Patrick's Parade is the world's oldest and
largest civic parade and celebrates "The Faith of Ireland,
Irish heritage
and Culture".
John Dunleavy, Chairman of the Parade, said, "We are
delighted Frank has been selected as the 2012 Grand Marshal.
He is an outstanding Irish American who has devoted a huge
amount of his energy and charisma contributing to the legacy
of the Irish in this great country. He has been instrumental
in raising the profile of the Parade across the world
through the media of television and the web. Indeed the
Parade viewership has increased dramatically in recent years
largely due to initiates supported by him and NBC. We are
delighted he has accepted the honor to lead us on March 17th
and we look forward to a wonderful day celebrating our Irish
heritage with Frank at the helm."
The New York City St Patrick's Parade marched for the first
time in 1762, fourteen years before the Declaration of
Independence was signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia.
The Parade is regarded as the most popular of the all the
Parades in New York City, and honors Saint Patrick - the
patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York and Ireland. The
New York Parade consists only of marchers and each year
hosts some 250,000 marchers and two million spectators. The
Parade has many outstanding marching bands, bagpipers in
marching formations, high-school and college bands from
throughout the United States and from all over the world.
The occasion is televised live to millions of households
nationwide for four hours by host station NBC 4 New York.
The broadcast is web-cast live via the Internet through the
Parade's web site at NYCStPatricksParade.Org and NBC 4's web
site at
www.nbcnewyork.com
.
For additional information regarding the 2012 Grand Marshal
and Parade events leading up to the Parade, contact Hilary
Beirne at the Parade Office or visit the NYC St Patrick's
Day Parade web site at
www.NYCStPatricksParade.Org
.
2012 Grand
Marshal
Biography
FRANCIS XAVIER COMERFORD
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT OF COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS
NBC OWNED TELEVISION STATIONS
Francis X. Comerford is the Chief Revenue Officer and
President of Commercial Operations for the NBC Owned
Television Stations. In this role, Frank oversees all
commercial efforts for the division's 10 television
stations, on-line properties and digital out-of-home
division and is responsible for developing new partnerships
and business ventures that align the group's growth with the
needs of its clients.
Frank grew up in Brooklyn in Our Lady of Angels Parish when
he attended grammar school before attending Xavier High
School. He holds a BS in Business Administration and Finance
from Georgetown University. Frank currently resides in
Brooklyn and Long Island with his wife, Maura, and their son
Francis Jr. and he is still a member of Our Lady of Angels
Parish in Bay Ridge. Frank Comerford traces his Irish
heritage to County Kilkenny.
Frank has worked in the television industry for more than 30
years, including over 15 years with NBC. Before being
promoted to his current role in April 2008, he was President
and General Manager of NBC's flagship station, WNBC, in New
York. During his tenure, he oversaw the station's conversion
to high definition, expanded its community partnerships and
increased locally produced content. Prior to his role at
WNBC, Frank served as Executive Vice President of Sales and
Marketing for the NBC-owned stations group from 1999 through
2002. He joined NBC in 1994 and held various positions of
increasing responsibility within the sales group,
culminating with his 1996 promotion to Vice President of
Sales for WNBC. Prior to joining NBC, Frank was with WSBK-TV
in Boston from 1986 until 1994, serving in several different
sales management positions. He began his career in the
television industry in 1981 with Storer Television Sales in
New York City.
Frank is very active in the community and serves on many
charitable board, most notably the New York City St
Patrick's Day Parade, Xavier High School, Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese of New York, the DeSales Media (Diocese
of Brooklyn's television station), the Association for a
Better New York, NYC & Company, Lutheran Medical Center, The
Television Bureau of Advertising and The John A. Reisenbach
Foundation.
Frank has been honored by several prestigious organizations,
including the Child Abuse Prevention Program, Abilities
School, the Diocese of Brooklyn "Distinguished Communicator
Award," Friends of AHRC Nassau Autism Program, Shining Star
Award, New Yorkers for Children, Nicholas Scarpetta Award
for Service to Children and Chief Brehon of Brooklyn's Great
Irish Fair, which benefits Catholic Charities. He was named
a "Favorite Son of Brooklyn" with Brooklyn Borough President
Marty Markowitz declaring November 26, 2002 Frank Comerford
Day. Frank was also honored by Medgar Evers College in 2004
and by the St Patrick's Parade Committee in 2003 with a
Trustee Award. |