Business News

ABBE RAVEN ELEVATED TO NEW ROLE AS CHAIRMAN OF A+E NETWORKS; NANCY DUBUC NAMED PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Thursday 16. May 2013 - New Positions Effective June 1, 2013

Nancy Dubuc has been appointed president and chief executive officer of A+E Networks, becoming the third CEO in the company’s nearly 30-year history. Dubuc will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company, with the brand groups and business divisions reporting to her. Abbe Raven will be elevated to the newly created position of chairman, A+E Networks. Raven will spearhead A+E Networks’ long-term business and revenue opportunities, as well as public policy initiatives, and serve as corporate strategic adviser. The announcement was made today by the A+E Networks’ Board of Directors—led by Anne Sweeney, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, and Steven Swartz, president & COO, Hearst Corporation. Raven will report directly to the company’s Board and Dubuc will report both to Raven and the Board. Their new roles are effective June 1, 2013.
“A+E Networks is the global media powerhouse it is today because of Abbe’s leadership and vision,” said Sweeney and Swartz jointly. “Abbe and Nancy have enjoyed one of the most successful partnerships in our business. Together, over the last several years, they have built some of the strongest brands in media. We look forward to the company’s next chapter as Abbe becomes chairman and Nancy steps into her expanded new role as president and CEO and leads the company into the future.”
“I am delighted that our next president and CEO has been chosen from within our own ranks once again,” Raven said. “A+E Networks’ culture has always been about rewarding success and encouraging innovation. Nancy is one of the most talented executives working in media today—a decisive leader, with her hallmark drive and determination. I am so proud of what Nancy, the management team and our employees have accomplished and I know they will take A+E Networks to new heights.”
“I am incredibly humbled by the opportunity to lead a company I love so much,” Dubuc said. “I built my career here and I thank Anne and Steve for their confidence and trust. Abbe has been a great mentor and partner for over 10 years. She created a corporate culture at A+E Networks where creativity thrives and as a result we cultivated some of the most powerful global brands in media. The biggest lesson I learned from her is that a great leader is nothing without a great team. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their continued support as we write this next chapter together. We have a powerful portfolio of brands that are well-positioned for future growth, both domestically and internationally.”
Since March 2005, Raven has led A+E Networks as president and chief executive officer, tripling its earnings and expanding its global portfolio. She oversaw the company’s strategic merger with Lifetime Television in 2009. The portfolio today encompasses A&E Network, HISTORY, Lifetime, LMN, bio., H2, LRW, Military HISTORY, HISTORY en Español, Crime & Investigation Network, Lifetime Digital, A+E Networks International and A+E Networks Consumer Products.
Under Raven’s leadership, A+E Networks’ channels and branded programming grew to reach more than 350 million households in over 150 countries. During her tenure at A+E Networks, Raven has been honored for building some of the most prominent and highly valued cable networks and for standing at the forefront of numerous industry-wide initiatives. Raven serves as vice chairman on the board of directors of the NCTA. She also serves as vice chairman of the advisory board of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
In September 2012, Raven was again named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune. She was cited for running one of the most successful multi-billion dollar global media companies. Over the last 10 years, Raven has been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Power 100 list, which listed her this year as one of the Top 5 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment. In April 2005, she received the Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership from the National Cable Television Association for her years of leadership in the cable industry. At a White House ceremony in May 2007, Raven accepted the prestigious Preserve America Presidential Award from first lady Laura Bush for HISTORY’s longstanding commitment to historic preservation. In October 2009, Raven was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. In April 2011, she was the recipient of the prestigious New York Women in Communications Matrix Award.
Dubuc was formerly president, entertainment and media, A+E Networks. Dubuc oversaw all content creation, brand development and marketing for the entire A+E Networks’ portfolio including A&E Network, Lifetime, HISTORY and their affiliated brands. In addition, she oversaw A+E Networks’ international and digital divisions.
Under her stewardship, the A+E Networks’ portfolio has two of the top five entertainment brands—HISTORY and A&E—and two of the leading women’s brands in Lifetime and LMN. In 2013, A+E Networks leads all other cable groups with 10 of the top 25 shows in adults 25-54 and 18 of the top 50 shows in adults 25-54; including the #1 nonfiction show Duck Dynasty, the #1 new drama series Vikings and the #1 miniseries The Bible, which was watched by over 95 million people. The portfolio of hit shows also includes HISTORY’s Pawn Stars, Swamp People, American Pickers; Lifetime’s Project Runway, Dance Moms and The Client List; and A&E’s Storage Wars and Bates Motel.
Since 2007, HISTORY has secured its place as an unparalleled leader in the media marketplace with six consecutive years of unprecedented growth. With its slate of original programming, HISTORY is the #3 cable network in adults 25-54 and in the top five among all cable networks in adults 18-49, year to date. HISTORY has more hit series averaging over 1 million adults 25-54 impressions than any other network in cable. In May 2012, Dubuc oversaw the highest-rated miniseries in cable history, the multi-Emmy Award-winning Hatfields & McCoys.
Dubuc has also spearheaded the resurgence of Lifetime as a premiere entertainment brand, introducing an iconic new look and tagline, “Your life. Your time.”, while propelling its original programming to ratings success. Under Dubuc’s leadership, Lifetime has seen double-digit ratings and demo growth with the launch of new nonfiction and drama series. In addition, Lifetime is undergoing a renaissance in the original movie genre with A-list talent and powerhouse films Steel Magnolias, Drew Peterson: Untouchable and Prosecuting Casey Anthony.