ABC News has made it official, elevating “Good Morning America” senior EP James Goldston to senior VP for content and development, and naming “GMA” EP Tom Cibrowski senior EP of the program. Word of the shifts were first reported early last month by B&C.
In his new role Goldston will oversee all ABC News programs, as well as its EPs. He will also develop new programs for the network.
Goldston has steadily risen through the ranks at ABC since joining the network in 2004. Goldston, a former producer for ITV, is credited with breathing new life into the late night news program “Nightline,” and was rewarded with expanded oversight of other ABC News programming, including “This Week,” before adding “GMA” to his résumé.
ABC News president Ben Sherwood’s note to staff, after the jump.
I’m writing with news about two leaders at ABC News: James Goldston and Tom Cibrowski.
James is taking on a new executive role as senior vice president for content and development, overseeing our programs and immensely talented executive producers. An accomplished journalist and creative force, James will also spearhead the development of new shows for broadcast, cable, and other distribution.
For many years in England, James worked as a news producer covering conflicts in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Kosovo. During that time, he led ITV’s flagship Tonight and produced one of the world’s most-watched documentaries, Living with Michael Jackson. More recently, as executive producer of Nightline, James and his team transformed the broadcast and took it from number three to number one in late night. For the past year, as senior executive producer of Good Morning America, James has collaborated closely with Tom and the staff. As you all know, the results have been excellent: the strongest competitive position versus Today in many years and a tremendous on-air and off-air team.
Since joining ABC in 2004 as a 20/20 senior, James has demonstrated a commitment to high-impact journalism, enterprise reporting and making memorable TV. He has also shown a keen eye for innovation in the way we produce and tell stories. I look forward to seeing his leadership and ideas spread even more through the news division.
I’m also delighted to tell you that Tom is moving up to become senior executive producer of GMA.
Tom started his career at ABC as a desk assistant. Since then he’s been a producer for our bureaus in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Seattle, covered the wars in Bosnia and Iraq and produced interviews with Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton. Since joining GMA in 2002, Tom has been a mastermind behind our hard-charging coverage of major breaking news. Under his watch, the program has won three Emmys for Best Morning Show.
On a personal note, I’ve known Tom since 2004 when we met for a cup of coffee near Times Square before I joined GMA. It was clear then, as it is now, that he is truly passionate – and deeply competitive – about breaking news and morning television. He is highly skilled at producing major live events for both hours of the program and his strong relationships with our on-air team and colleagues throughout the news division are invaluable.
Please join me in congratulating Tom and James. I’m delighted each is taking on more responsibility as we seek new ways to help our audience see the whole picture.