Local TV news staple Marcelle Fontenot will leave her post at News15 to lead UL’s communications team, she announced Tuesday.
Fontenot built a loyal following over two decades in broadcast journalism, rising to the anchor desk at ABC-affiliate KATC and then jumping with co-host Jim Hummel to News15, Lafayette’s Fox/NBC affiliate.
She joins UL as chief communications officer just a few days into the permanent tenure of President Ramesh Kolluru. The communications division, which serves as UL’s marketing and PR arm, was among the first departments to be hit with layoffs as the university began attacking a reported $50 million budget gap last year.
Darla Montgomery, a fixture on CBS affiliate KLFY for more than 30 years, will assume Fontenot’s desk for the evening news broadcast. Hired by News15 in February, Montgomery was already set to debut her midday lifestyle show on the station this month, according a news release…