Ben Sherwood, Former ABC Boss Who Expanded GMA and Moved The View From Daytime to News, to Run The Daily Beast

The ex-ABC prez will head up the site with Joanna Coles

Author:
Daytime Confidential
Publish date:
Apr 23, 2024

Ex-Disney ABC Television Group president Ben Sherwood is signing on to a new gig. According to Variety, Sherwood and Joanna Coles will lead The Daily Beast. Both will own a minority stake in the website and approximately half the equity in the site, but IAC will keep majority control, per the New York Times.

Beginning right away, Sherwood will be The Daily Beast's CEO and publisher. Coles will serve as chief creative and content officer. Sherwood previously worked as co-chairman of the Disney Media Networks and president of the Disney ABC Television Group. He also served as EP of Good Morning America, among other roles.

Fans may remember his name from some major moves at the Mouse House in the 2010s. In 2016, reports emerged alleging Sherwood wanted to gut Live! With Kelly and Michael in favor of GMA. Before that, he shook up ABC's line-up in 2014, when ABC News took over The View from ABC Daytime; Sherwood was incoming ABC news prez at the time. He also oversaw the axing of The Chew and addition of a third hour of GMA. Daytime Confidential reported that Sherwood was allegedly pushing for Good Afternoon America to take over General Hospital's time slot.