The ABC Owned Television Stations Group has turned to The Walt Disney Co.’s ABC Television Network Online arm in selecting its new President.
In doing so, it selects a woman who spent six years as VP/Creative Services and Programming for West Coast flagship O&O KABC-7 in Los Angeles.
Taking the role effective Jan. 1, 2018, is Wendy McMahon, who has served as SVP/Digital at ABC Television Network Online since June 2015.
McMahon’s history at ABC dates to her arrival at KABC in September 2009, following a three-year stint as Creative Services Director at CBS O&O WBZ-4 and WSBK-38 in Boston.
She previously held a similar role at CBS O&O WCCO-4 in Minneapolis and, before that, at NBC affiliate KXAN-36 in Austin.
She began her career as Promotion Manager for WTOC-11 in Savannah, Ga., upon graduation from Louisiana State University in 1996.
McMahon will report directly to Ben Sherwood, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and President of Disney|ABC Television Group.
The appointment comes as Rebecca Campbell, who had McMahon’s job until recently, was named President of The Walt Disney Company EMEA.
This gives McMahon chief management responsibility for the 8 ABC-owned television stations in not only L.A., but also New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno.
“Wendy combines a deep understanding of the power of broadcast television, a passion for digital media and a broad vision for the future of local,” Sherwood said. “She is a high-impact leader who delivers results and inspires the best from those who work around her. I am excited for our Owned Television Stations Group and for the contribution Wendy will make to our senior leadership team.”
McMahon added, “I’m passionate about the value and importance of local and am eager to work even more closely with Ben, the senior leaders at Disney|ABC and our incredible local station teams. Rebecca Campbell and the management of each of our owned stations have done an outstanding job of modernizing our brands and growing our business. I look forward to expanding on that positive momentum and leading the innovation that will help our stations rise to new heights.”
In her most recent role, McMahon had oversight of the ABC digital group’s adoption of data-driven, mobile-first video strategies that drove historical growth and market leadership in on-platform video metrics as well as social reach and engagement.
She also led the creation of a local-branded content studio to extend the group’s content and distribution capabilities to premium partners.
