Tayyaba
Jonnie Davis, the president of ABC Signature, has announced his departure from the studio after over 20 years. Davis’s exit comes as a surprise to many, as he had been credited with overseeing a period of growth and success for the studio. In his time at ABC Signature, Davis worked on a number of hit shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder.
What did Davis say about his exit?
Jonnie Davis announced his departure from ABC Signature in a memo to staff on Friday. Eric Schrier, the recently installed president of Disney Television Studios, sent a separate note thanking Davis for his contributions. In Jonnie’s note, he shares his decision and thanks his team, expressing gratitude for their work. “I wanted to share that I have made the decision to step down from my role as president of ABC Signature. It has been a privilege to work alongside all of you to deliver some of the most acclaimed and celebrated shows, like ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, FX’s Fleishman is in Trouble and Hulu’s This Fool, to name just a few, that captivate, inspire and reflect the audiences that we so proudly serve every day,” he added.
Davis was one of the Fox executives who joined Disney in 2019 when the Mouse House acquired 20th Television. He had previously served as president of 20th Television since 2008, and he helped develop some of the studio’s most popular shows, including This Is Us, Modern Family, New Girl, Central Park, and Solar Opposites.
“I’m forever grateful to Dana Walden and Eric Schrier for the wonderful opportunity to lead this world-class studio. And while I will, of course, miss this outstanding team, after doing this job for over 20 years, I’m looking forward to figuring out my next creative challenge.”
Jonnie Davis in his memo
What were Eric Schrier’s comments on Jonnie’s departure?
In July 2019, Davis was appointed president of ABC Signature, where he helped develop series such as Little Fires Everywhere, Godfather of Harlem, A Small Light, Tiny Beautiful Things, and The Muppets Mayhem. Karey Burke, a Disney favorite, was transferred from her role as president of ABC entertainment to take over as president of 20th Television. In another memo, Eric thanked Davis for his hard work.
“Jonnie Davis has made the decision to step down from his role as president of ABC Signature. Not only has Jonnie been an incredibly valued colleague, he has also served as a fantastic creative partner, collaborator and friend to so many. Jonnie is an exceptional person, and his unwavering support and positive energy will continue to inspire us,” wrote Schrier. “I hope you will all join me in expressing our gratitude to Jonnie for all of his contributions to ABC Signature and in wishing him continued success. While news like this is never easy, I’m very confident in the leadership team we have in place, and I’m excited to work with them more closely until next steps are determined. “