A top ABC Sales executive is calling it quits after 40 years with the network.

Michael Rubin, senior vice president/general manager of the Central Sales Division for ABC Sales is stepping down as of January, 2012, the network has announced.

According to the announcement, Rubin "began his career at ABC in 1971 as assistant director, Sales Service, and was later promoted to assistant director, Sales Proposals; manager of Daytime Sales; and manager of Sports Sales. He then advanced to vice president, director of Central Division Sales, and was named senior vice president, managing director of the Central Division in 2001. He was named senior vice president, general manager in 2007."

Rubin will be replaced by David Mayber, who, along with Doug Hochstadt and Tom Watson, has now earned his senior vice president stripes. Mayber’s new title will be senior vice president/Central Division, the announcement said.

Adds the statement, "The Central division of ABC Sales, based in Chicago, covers 18 Midwestern and Southern states. In his new position, Mr. Mayber will report to Ms. Wang and will be responsible for all sales activities in the Central Division, where he will oversee a staff of 15 employees."

Hochstadt, "in his new role… will handle pricing for all dayparts, and planning responsibilities for the network. Mr. Hochstadt will continue to report to Debbie Richman, senior vice president of primetime sales," according to the announcement.

Watson, who has been named senior vice president/team leader, will report to Geri Wang, president of ABC Sales. It was Wang who made all of the sales announcements today. Watso will "head the sales team calling on OMD, PHD, and Horizon Media, and will direct all sales and negotiating activities on all of their accounts," the ABC statement said.

In addition, Marco Forte has been named vice president/primetime sales. He "will be the primary sales contact for the OMD agency and its 25 national advertisers, and will report to Mr. Watson." the announcement noted.

About ABC Sales the announcement says, "ABC Sales handles sales activities for ABC content on all distribution platforms, including the ABC Television Network, ABC.com, ABC News.com, Hulu, and Video on Demand. In addition, ABC Sales is responsible for cross-divisional efforts under the Disney/ABC Unlimited banner, which coordinates sales across all of the Walt Disney Company media properties.