Walsh, NBC Senior Executive, to Retire in 1989

Robert S. Walsh, one of three senior executives named by Grant Tinker to help run NBC in 1982 when he was board chairman, will retire from the company on Jan. 1, 1989, NBC said Thursday.

All three had held the title of group executive vice president. Their posts were created by Tinker, who led NBC to leadership in prime-time ratings. He left last fall to return to television production in Los Angeles.

Walsh, 58, has been with NBC for 25 years. Although he will have a new title and job at NBC until he leaves, he becomes the second of Tinker’s executive troika this year to announce retirement from NBC, which came under new management last year when it was bought by GE.

The other executive, Robert C. Butler, retired this fall. The third is Raymond J. Timothy, who sources said is expected to stay at NBC and retain both his title and job overseeing the NBC television network and its sales and affiliate operations.

Until his departure, NBC said, Walsh will be active as an executive vice president, working with its radio stations division and with NBC President Robert C. Wright on various projects, including mergers and acquisitions.

While a group executive vice president, Walsh’s duties included responsibility for NBC-owned television stations, NBC Sports and the network’s purchase of broadcast rights to the 1988 Summer Olympics.

His old job will be eliminated, a spokesman said. Butler’s job was eliminated earlier.