ABC Sales Chief Mike Shaw Exiting Company
Disney considering creating new position encompassing ad sales across all properties
By Claire Atkinson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/30/2009 6:55:57 PM
Mike Shaw, the longtime president of sales and marketing at ABC, will be stepping down from his current role at the end of the year, the company has confirmed. B&C first reported the news earlier Monday evening (Nov. 30).
According to ABC, Shaw will give up day-to-day responsibilities at the end of the year, becoming an advisor for sales and marketing strategy, reporting to Anne Sweeney.
Shaw is said to have decided that he's had enough of the tough fight that is network sales these days.
It is not clear if Shaw has another position to go, though agencies were already buzzing with the news Monday evening. Rival sales executives are already predicting who might take Shaw's place. Though no successor has been named as yet, ABC says it will name one "in the near future."
One name in the ring is Ed Erhardt, president of ESPN ad sales, though he is said to be happy in his current role.
One executive familiar with the situation said the role may evolve and Disney might be open to creating a new position that would encompass ad sales across all Disney properties.
"Mike is a visionary Ad Sales executive whose efforts have helped reshape our industry, most recently through his championing the live-plus-seven and live-plus-C3 metrics that are now the currency of our business," said Sweeney in a statement. "While we're sorry that he's decided to step back from the day-to-day, we're thrilled that he's left us with such an amazing team and that he'll remain involved as a strategic advisor."
"I have decided to step down at this time in order to pursue a number of personal goals," said Shaw. "I have had a great 20 years at the Walt Disney Co., with the last 10 years as ABC's President of Sales being the highlight of my career. I have been extremely fortunate to work with so many great people, who I'm confident will now take the Sales group to the next level. I'll continue in this role for the next few months to ensure a smooth transition, and then look forward to working on a number of projects for the company over the next year."
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