Meredith Wagner, longtime communications and public-affairs chief at Lifetime Networks, is the latest executive to leave after the network group was acquired by A&E Television Networks.
Wagner, Lifetime Networks' executive vice president of communications, public affairs and advocacy, said she has opted to leave in December after 22 years at Lifetime, telling her staff the decision Wednesday.
"This, as you can imagine, is one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make and certainly puts all my angst-ing over the six inch stilettos vs the four inch pumps at the Barney's shoe sale WAY in perspective," she said in an email.
More than 100 out of the combined 1,100 people from the enlarged AETN have been expected to leave. Other Lifetime EVPS who also are leaving are Pat Langer, of business affairs, legal and human resources, and chief financial officer James Wesley.
Wagner moved to Los Angeles this year from New York in a Lifetime consolidation. She said she wasn't sure what she would do next.
She pointed with pride to Lifetime's public advocacy of women's issues over the years.
"It is a rare organization indeed that encourages its ranks to truly make a difference in the lives of its customers. In leveraging Lifetime's assets as a platform for change that has raised awareness on breathtakingly crucial issues and helped drive the passage of five key bills into law on behalf of women's equality and advancement, I hope we have been able to do that," she emailed.
