Stephanie Leifer, a former programming executive who worked a combined 28 years at ABC Signature and ABC before leaving the company in 2022, died Thursday of cancer. She was 56.
21.06.2024 - 00:43 / deadline.com
Stacia Deshishku, who has been executive editor and senior vice president of ABC News, is planning to depart the network, according to a source familiar with plans.
Deshishku is one of the high-profile exits since the departure last month of Kim Godwin, who had been president of ABC News since 2021. Godwin departed after Debra OConnell was named to a new role above her at the network, overseeing the the news division and stations. According to The Washington Post, which first reported on Deshishku’s plans to depart, she wrote in a draft memo that she had spoken several months ago with ABC News executives about her intent to leave. She plans to exit on June 28, the Post reported.
The network has not named a successor to Godwin, although staffers expect her position to be filled. OConnell has been overseeing the network since then.
Before Godwin named her in her role, Deshishku has led ABC Audio for three years as vice president and general manager, as the division was rebranded from ABC Radio.
Deshishku previously served as ABC News Washington, D.C. deputy bureau chief for five years, and previously worked at CNN.
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Stephanie Leifer, a former programming executive who worked a combined 28 years at ABC Signature and ABC before leaving the company in 2022, died Thursday of cancer. She was 56.
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Former ABC exec Stephanie Leifer, who spent nearly three decades at Disney TV in various capacities before departing in 2022, has died. She was 56. During her long career at ABC, Leifer was part of some of the biggest and most critically-acclaimed shows in the network’s history.
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