The Walt Disney Company shared earlier this week that it would begin mass layoffs, with a reported 7,000 employees expected to lose their positions with the company. ABC News was affected by the reductions, with several executives being let go.
“Throughout the company, teams are being impacted by the downsizing that was announced several weeks ago, including our own ABC News family,” ABC News President Kim Godwin told employees in an internal memo.
“While these actions are never easy,” Godwin continued, “they are a necessary step to ensure we’re on solid footing for the years ahead as we chart a sustainable, growth-oriented path forward for the entire organization.”
Among those departing the company are Senior Vice President of Newsgathering Wendy Fisher, Senior Vice President of Talent Galen Gordon, Vice President of Talent Mary Noonan, Los Angeles Bureau Chief David Herndon, Vice President of Communications Alison Rudnick, Senior Executive Producer Chris Vlasto, and Executive Editorial Producer Heather Riley.
Employees inside ABC News were reportedly in a state of shock at how impacted their division was by the layoffs.
“There’s a ton of shock that’s gone through the newsroom,” one ABC News employee told CNN’s Oliver Darcy. “So many people with institutional knowledge are gone.”
The cuts come as Disney CEO Bob Iger has instituted a plan with the hopes of reducing $5.5 billion from the company’s budget after its stock price dropped by more than 40% in 2022.
