Jonnie Davis Is The New President Of ABC TV
There’s been a bustle in Burbank. ABC Television has a new president: Jonnie Davis, late of Fox.
New Leadership at ABC TV: Jonnie Davis
The Los Angeles Times Meg James reported:
In another shakeup at ABC, two top executives at the network’s television production unit — Patrick Moran and Howard Davine — are departing the company as the new Fox regime tightens its grip.
Moran was in charge of ABC Studios since 2013, overseeing such shows as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “black-ish” and “How to Get Away with Murder.” Another studio veteran, Davine was head of business affairs for the TV production unit. Both men are out, ABC said Wednesday in a statement.
Jonnie Davis will replace Moran as head of ABC Studios, the company said.
He is part of the Fox team that moved to ABC in March as part of the Walt Disney Co.’s $71.3-billion takeover of much of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox. Since then, former Fox studio chief Dana Walden and former top Fox executive Peter Rice have been rebuilding ABC’s television operation. They formed Disney Television Studios and entrusted Craig Hunegs, a former Warner Bros. Television executive, to run that umbrella group.
Hunegs: New Blood Needed
Reports say that Moran is out despite his being quite popular at ABC.
…Disney TV Studios president Craig Hunegs wanted to infuse ABC Studios with “new blood.”
In an internal memo that Hunegs sent to staff, he acknowledged that “change can be difficult in the short term,” and that “Dana (Walden) and I will do our best to communicate with you often, with transparency and clarity.”
Davis Worked On Modern Family and This Is Us
Davis joined Disney from 20th Century Fox Television, where he started in 2008. There he developed “Modern Family” and was involved in the production of “This is Us.”
The text of the internal memo announcing the shakeup is below:
Dear colleagues,
We will shortly be announcing changes to our leadership at ABC Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
Jonnie Davis, who has done fantastic work leading the creative team at 20th, is moving to ABC Studios as President, effective immediately. Josh Sussman, a gifted and creative deal maker, will also move from 20th to ABC Studios as Executive Vice President, Business Affairs, reporting to Jonnie.
At 20th Century Fox Television, we are really pleased to announce that Carolyn Cassidy has been promoted to President, Creative Affairs. She will run the studio together with Howard Kurtzman, President, Business Operations. They are exceptional leaders.
Patrick Moran and Howard Davine will be stepping down from their current roles and I have enormous respect for all they have achieved in their careers at ABC Studios. Patrick has developed and overseen many landmark series and has an excellent slate of new shows. I have known Howard for many years and he is one of the most accomplished and effective business affairs executives in our industry, having made a number of groundbreaking deals and run an excellent business. Together they have brought to ABC Studios a wonderful group of writers, producers and executives and made a lasting contribution to The Walt Disney Company.
From the launch of Disney Television Studios just over 100 days ago, Dana and I have worked with you to make our studios a home for the most talented people to create the most compelling and entertaining television. In our early days, DTS has added promising new shows, continued to win awards and brought to our studio even more of the best creators. We thank all of you for your excellent work and for creating a new spirit of collaboration.
I know that change can be difficult in the short term. Dana and I will do our best to communicate with you often, with transparency and clarity. We promise you that the years ahead will be filled with creating great television, with great people, having much fun along the way. The best is unquestionably yet to come.
Warmly
Craig