Andrea Wong has finalized a deal to exit as president and CEO of Lifetimes Networks.
Wong's
exit from the cable service has been widely expected in the wake of the
network's acquisition by A&E Television Networks.
Last year,
Disney, Hearst Corporation and NBC Universal announced that A&E
Television Networks would acquire the Lifetime portfolio, effectively
combining A&E, History, Bio and Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network
under one roof.
A&E veteran Abbe Raven was tapped to run the new entity.
Wong announced her farewell in an e-mail to Lifetime staffers Friday (Feb. 5) afternoon.
"As
with all acquisitions and mergers, change is inevitable," Wong wrote.
"And certainly that has been the case for us over the last several
months. Now that my role in the acquisition of Lifetime by AETN is
concluded, and the integration of the organizations including a more
streamlined management structure is nearly complete, I believe that it
is the right time for me to step down as President & CEO. It is my
plan to move on in the coming weeks after assisting in any way I can
with the transition."
In a statement, Raven thanked for Wong
for "her many contributions to Lifetime. We are pleased that she will
be with us for a transition period and we wish her well in her future
endeavors."
Wong came to Lifetime in 2007 after a successful run
as head of unscripted at ABC where she developed multiple enduring
franchises including Dancing with the Stars and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Nikke Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily first reported the news Friday afternoon.
