ABC News President Kim Godwin has announced she is retiring from the TV news business after a tumultuous three-year run leading the outlet.
According to a report, after The Walt Disney Company installed executive Debra OConnell to overall the news division, she implemented a performance review of Godwin and reportedly shared her dissatisfaction with how the division was operating under Godwin’s leadership.
Godwin — who became the first Black woman to serve as a network news President when she took over the network’s top executive role in 2021 — held strong ratings advantages with shows like Good Morning America and World News Tonight over rivals CBS and NBC. While those leads are still intact, they have slipped, with employee morale reportedly declining under Godwin’s direction as well.
In a note to ABC News staffers announcing her exit, Kim Godwin shared her understanding and appreciation as the first Black woman to lead an outlet of the network’s magnitude.
“It’s both a privilege and a debt to those who chipped away at the ceiling before me to lead a team whose brand is synonymous with trust, integrity and a dogged determination to be the best in the business,” wrote Godwin.
“I leave with my head held high and wish the entire team continued success,” she concluded.
