News director Skip Valet, who helped guide WKMG from being an also-ran in news into the home of top-rated late newscast in Orlando and the second-ranked one in the early evening, is leaving the station. He'll be the new ND at Post-Newsweek sister station KPRC-NBC 2, it was announced Wednesday.

He will be replaced at WKMG by Susan Forbes.

Valet has been at Channel 6 for five years, coming to the station from another Post-Newsweek outlet, WJXT in Jacksonville. He has been with Post-Newsweek since 1982.

Based on the e-mail I receive and from what people in the industry say, this is a huge loss for Local 6. Valet seems to be that rare combination of an executive who is talented, well-liked and respected by his peers.

According to a memo announcing the change, Valet will be in Houston next week but his exact start date is yet to be set. He replaces Nancy Shafran as ND at KPRC.