ABC News Names James Goldston as President

ABC News on Thursday appointed James Goldston as president, succeeding Ben Sherwood, who was named co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney/ABC Television Group.

 

Goldston is currently the senior vice president responsible for content and development at ABC News and has worked closely with Sherwood over the past three years.

 

Goldston joined ABC in 2004 after leading Britain's current affair program "Tonight with Trevor McDonald." He served in several positions at ABC, including executive producer of Nightline, catapulting the program to first from third place.

 

Goldston also helped ABC's "Good Morning America" become the top morning show.

 

Sherwood is replacing Anne Sweeney effective next year.

 

ABC Press Release:

 

JAMES GOLDSTON NAMED PRESIDENT OF ABC NEWS

 

As part of the ongoing succession process, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group today announced that ABC News Senior Vice President James Goldston has been named president, ABC News, replacing Ben Sherwood, who was recently promoted to co-president, Disney/ABC Television Group.

 

In this role, Mr. Goldston will be responsible for all editorial and business aspects of the News Division, including all ABC News programs on the ABC Television Network, ABC News Radio, ABC News.com and ABC News NOW.

 

In making the announcement, Ms. Sweeney stated, “James has been an integral part of the resurgence at ABC News, lending his insight and expertise to our News programs as they’ve experienced tremendous success and momentum.  He’s smart, strategic and fearless in his pursuit of creative excellence.”

 

In a note to ABC staff, Mr. Sherwood said, “An award-winning journalist, masterful programmer, and innovative businessman, James has helped steer ABC News in moments of triumph and challenge,” said Mr. Sherwood. “I am confident he is the right person to lead ABC News to an even brighter and better future.”

 

“Coming to ABC News has been the most exciting and rewarding time in my life.  The people of ABC News amaze me every day with their dedication, creativity, hunger for the truth and sense of duty to our vitally important mission,” said Mr. Goldston.  “Over the past three years, Ben inspired the division with the two most important things we needed – confidence in the future and a belief that if we dreamed big dreams we could accomplish anything.  Armed with those, I know our incredible team will take ABC News to even greater heights.”

 

Mr. Goldston was named Senior Vice President for Content and Development of ABC News in March 2012. In this role, he oversaw ABC News programs and Executive Producers and led the development of new shows for broadcast, cable and other distribution.

 

Prior to his role as Senior Vice President, Mr. Goldston was the Senior Executive Producer of “Good Morning America” from February 2011-March 2012, the historic and pivotal time in which “Good Morning America” closed in on “Today’s” 16-year winning streak to ultimately become the number one morning show in April 2012.

 

Mr. Goldston joined ABC News in 2004 as Senior Producer of primetime specials and investigations and was promoted shortly thereafter to Executive Producer of “Nightline,” a position he held until 2011. Under his leadership, “Nightline” rose to the number one program in late night and was honored with many awards, including a duPont, a Murrow and multiple Emmy Awards.

 

Before joining ABC News, Mr. Goldston led Britain’s most watched current affairs program, ITV1?s “Tonight with Trevor McDonald,” from 2002-2004. During his tenure as both Producer and Executive Producer, “Tonight” was honored with the prestigious Program of the Year Award three times in five years.

 

A graduate of Jesus College, Oxford University, Mr. Goldston began his career in television as a producer for several BBC News programs, including “Newsnight,” the network’s nightly news analysis show, as well as BBC’s flagship current affairs program, “Panorama.”