ABC News president exiting

By MixDex Article may include affiliate links

ABC News president James Goldston will depart the network at the end of March 2021, the network announced.

“It’s a really tough decision,” Goldston wrote in a memo announcing his departure. “In recent times I’ve always assumed that after this extraordinary election cycle, which we’ve covered at a full sprint for four years, it would be time for a change.  After a great deal of reflection over the last few months, I’m ready for a new adventure.”

Goldston took over the division from Ben Sherwood, who took over as president in 2010. Sherwood was elevated to oversee the entire ABC-Disney television group in 2015 but would leave the company after Disney completed its acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets in 2019.

While ABC News has continued its ratings growth under Goldston’s leadership, it’s worth noting his tenure was relatively short — coming in at about two years.

His departure is also noteworthy in that he will not be taking another role within the ABC-Disney empire and that there is no clear successor in place.

While ABC conducts a search for his replacement, five executives will collectively manage the division under the banner “Office of the President.”

Derek Medina will be responsible for day to day business operations while the exec producers of “ABC World News Tonight” and “Good Morning America,” Almin Karamehmedovic and Michael Corn will head up breaking news coverage in addition to their responsibilities for the daily newscasts.

Wendy Fisher will be in charge of newsgathering teams and Marie Nelson will handle “relationships with multicultural audiences.”

There’s no word on what Goldston will do after leaving the network.