ABC News president Kim Godwin gets new ‘micromanager boss,’ effectively demoted: sources
Embattled ABC News president Kim Godwin was effectively demoted and will report to a “micromanager boss,” insiders told The Post — after parent Disney on Wednesday announced a major restructuring to the network’s leadership.
The Mouse House said it is elevating veteran executive Debra O’Connell to helm a new division that would encompass ABC News, which includes the top-rated shows “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight with David Muir.”
Godwin will now report directly to O’Connell, a 27-year Disney veteran who has been in charge of ABC-owned TV stations and the company’s entertainment networks, including FX Networks and National Geographic.
A source who worked closely with O’Connell said the shakeup renders Godwin “irrelevant” as a news president.
“Debra is a micromanager. She will control everything,” the source said. “Kim is layered and marginalized.”
The restructuring was announced shortly after Godwin renewed her contract to remain ABC News president.
Another media insider said Godwin was likely told her contract only would be renewed if she accepted the new position.
The Post reached out to ABC News for comment.
In a memo to staff, Godwin wrote, “Debra and I have collaborated over the last couple of years, and she is a dedicated leader who always champions the best in journalism.”
Previously, Godwin had reported to co-chairman of Disney Entertainment Dana Walden, who is often cited as among a group of potential successors to Disney CEO Bob Iger when he retires next year.
“Debra is an excellent executive who has succeeded in a wide range of leadership roles around our company and knows very well the extraordinary power of ABC News and its world-class journalists,” Walden said in a statement.
“This new role gives her oversight across all our linear operations, where she will be able to optimize our iconic brands and shepherd them into the future. I look forward to having her lead these incredibly talented teams as we build on our success.”
O’Connell said, “I consider it a privilege to advocate for the best networks, the best news organization and the best stations in the world, and thank Dana for her leadership and trust.”
The move comes as Iger fends off a proxy battle led by activist investor Nelson Peltz.
“I think this is in response to a need to cut costs and streamline,” the media insider added. “I also think Kim’s shortcomings pushed this.”
Godwin has been a lightning rod at ABC News, which has lost some ground to rivals NBC News and CBS News at its top-ranked shows.
Top brass at the network has paid attention, one insider told The Post, noting that Godwin’s many gaffes over her two-and-half-year tenure have not helped her cause.
Godwin first drew widespread criticism from many at the network as news spread of the salacious affair between “GMA3” hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach.
Details of the affair spilled out in November 2022, but Godwin permitted the “GMA3” pair to remain on the air, causing a spectacle which led to more news stories.
As more lurid tidbits came out, Godwin benched the duo and defended them on a Dec. 5 interoffice call, saying they “had not violated company policy.”
ABC launched an internal probe soon after, as more juicy stories were leaked to the tabloids about Holmes’ other affairs at ABC. After a prolonged suspension, ABC settled with the pair to exit the company.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
“Standing up for TJ and Amy early on probably cost the company $1 million,” a media exec speculated at the time.
Other missteps included the awkward handling of Whoopi Goldberg’s suspension after she made anti-semitic comments on “The View.”
Some staffers have also griped about Godwin’s self-promotional style that glosses over the serious mission of the news division. They pointed to Godwin being led on stage by actors dressed as Wakanda warriors from Marvel’s “Black Panther” at the opening reception of the National Association of Black Journalists convention in 2022.
Others cited a Puck News article that called out Godwin’s promotion of her university, suggesting she was looking to join the board of trustees.
Employees said the exec’s constant “efforts to turn ABC News into a cheerleading organization for her alma mater Florida A&M University” have caused problems as “Good Morning America” oddly broadcast live from the school’s homecoming in October.
“She’s the president of news tourism, not the president of the news division,” an ABC News insider told The Post last April, after Godwin ruffled feathers by chopping several veteran staffers
At the time, Godwin fired 50 staffers — many of whom were well-respected and high-level — and put in place her new leadership team, which sources described as “yes-men” who did not dare to question their leader.
Some of the fired employees have looked into suing ABC News, after they were not offered buyouts or severance, the Daily Beast reported at the time.
With all that, Godwin’s apparent demotion has been the talk of Hollywood for some time. Last year, the Daily Beast reported that a restructuring may be in the works, speculating that O’Connell, who was president of networks and the TV operations, could be elevated over Godwin.
In what many media types called a “disastrous” Vanity Fair profile last March, Godwin was questioned about that possibility.
“The bottom line is, I really don’t know, right? Our corporation is trying to figure it out, and trying to figure out who reports to who. What I do know is I’m still leading ABC News, and I have the support of both of my bosses,” she told the glossy. “There are a lot of moving parts, and I’m not privy to those conversations.”
