ABC Information president Kim Godwin will get new ‘micromanager boss,’ successfully demoted: sources

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By Alexandra Steigrad

Embattled ABC Information president Kim Godwin was successfully demoted and can report back to a “micromanager boss,” insiders informed The Put up — after mother or father Disney on Wednesday introduced a significant restructuring to the community’s management.

The Mouse Home stated it’s elevating veteran government Debra O’Connell to helm a brand new division that might embody ABC Information, which incorporates the top-rated reveals “Good Morning America” and “World Information Tonight with David Muir.”

Godwin will now report on to O’Connell, a 27-year Disney veteran who has been in control of ABC-owned TV stations and the corporate’s leisure networks, together with FX Networks and Nationwide Geographic.

A supply who labored carefully with O’Connell stated the shakeup renders Godwin “irrelevant” as a information president.

“Debra is a micromanager. She’s going to management every thing,” the supply stated. “Kim is layered and marginalized.”

The restructuring was introduced shortly after Godwin renewed her contract to stay ABC Information president.

One other media insider stated Godwin was probably informed her contract solely could be renewed if she accepted the brand new place.

The Put up reached out to ABC Information for remark.

In a memo to employees, Godwin wrote, “Debra and I’ve collaborated over the past couple of years, and he or she is a devoted chief who all the time champions the perfect in journalism.”

Beforehand, Godwin had reported to co-chairman of Disney Leisure Dana Walden, who is usually cited as amongst a gaggle of potential successors to Disney CEO Bob Iger when he retires subsequent 12 months.

“Debra is a wonderful government who has succeeded in a variety of management roles round our firm and is aware of very properly the extraordinary energy of ABC Information and its world-class journalists,” Walden stated in a press release.

“This new function offers her oversight throughout all our linear operations, the place she is going to be capable to optimize our iconic manufacturers and shepherd them into the long run. I look ahead to having her lead these extremely gifted groups as we construct on our success.”

O’Connell stated, “I think about it a privilege to advocate for the perfect networks, the perfect information group and the perfect stations on the planet, and thank Dana for her management and belief.”

The transfer comes as Iger fends off a proxy battle led by activist investor Nelson Peltz.

“I feel that is in response to a necessity to chop prices and streamline,” the media insider added. “I additionally suppose Kim’s shortcomings pushed this.”

Godwin has been a lightning rod at ABC Information, which has misplaced some floor to rivals NBC Information and CBS Information at its top-ranked reveals.

High brass on the community has paid consideration, one insider informed The Put up, noting that Godwin’s many gaffes over her two-and-half-year tenure haven’t helped her trigger.

Godwin first drew widespread criticism from many on the community as information unfold of the salacious affair between “GMA3” hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach.

Particulars of the affair spilled out in November 2022, however Godwin permitted the “GMA3” pair to stay on the air, inflicting a spectacle which led to extra information tales.

As extra lurid tidbits got here out, Godwin benched the duo and defended them on a Dec. 5 interoffice name, saying they “had not violated firm coverage.”

ABC launched an inner probe quickly after, as extra juicy tales have been leaked to the tabloids about Holmes’ different affairs at ABC. After a protracted suspension, ABC settled with the pair to exit the company. 

Monetary particulars of the deal weren’t disclosed.

“Standing up for TJ and Amy early on most likely price the corporate $1 million,” a media exec speculated on the time.

Different missteps included the awkward dealing with of Whoopi Goldberg’s suspension after she made anti-semitic feedback on “The View.”

Some staffers have additionally griped about Godwin’s self-promotional fashion that glosses over the intense mission of the information division. They pointed to Godwin being led on stage by actors dressed as Wakanda warriors from Marvel’s “Black Panther” on the opening reception of the Nationwide Affiliation of Black Journalists conference in 2022.

Others cited a Puck News article that referred to as out Godwin’s promotion of her college, suggesting she was trying to be part of the board of trustees.

Staff stated the exec’s fixed “efforts to show ABC Information right into a cheerleading group for her alma mater Florida A&M College” have prompted issues as “Good Morning America” oddly broadcast stay from the college’s homecoming in October.

“She’s the president of stories tourism, not the president of the information division,” an ABC Information insider informed The Put up final April, after Godwin ruffled feathers by chopping a number of veteran staffers

On the time, Godwin fired 50 staffers — a lot of whom have been well-respected and high-level — and put in place her new management group, which sources described as “yes-men” who didn’t dare to query their chief.

A number of the fired workers have regarded into suing ABC Information, after they weren’t provided buyouts or severance, the Daily Beast reported on the time.

With all that, Godwin’s obvious demotion has been the discuss of Hollywood for a while. Final 12 months, the Each day Beast reported {that a} restructuring could also be within the works, speculating that O’Connell, who was president of networks and the TV operations, may very well be elevated over Godwin.

In what many media varieties referred to as a “disastrous” Vanity Fair profile final March, Godwin was questioned about that risk.

“The underside line is, I actually don’t know, proper? Our company is making an attempt to determine it out, and making an attempt to determine who studies to who. What I do know is I’m nonetheless main ABC Information, and I’ve the assist of each of my bosses,” she informed the shiny. “There are a number of shifting components, and I’m not aware of these conversations.”