TVNewser received a memo to The Weather Channel staff announcing the retirement of Ray Ban, EVP of programming and meteorology for the network. In the note, The Weather Channel’s president and CEO Debora J. Wilson writes that Geoffrey Darby, a consultant for NBCU, “will assume responsibility as interim head of programming effective 1/1/09.”
“I am confident he will do a terrific job in evolving our strategies and even more deeply linking our organization into the NBCU resources and capabilities, which we are already beginning to benefit from,” she writes.
That benefit presumably includes the continued on-air integration between TWC and NBC, as evidenced this morning when meteorologist Jim Cantore filled in for Al Roker on the Today show.
Click continued to see the full memo…
To all TWC associates, I am writing to announce that Ray Ban, EVP – Programming and Meteorology, has made the decision to retire from The Weather Channel after almost 27 years. Everyone who knows Ray understands that he epitomizes what our company stands for: he is passionate about the science of weather and the importance it plays in people’s lives; he cares deeply about The Weather Channel and everyone who works here; and he has an infectious enthusiasm for the work we do that is contagious to all around him. Ray has many accomplishments to be proud of, but I particularly want to thank him for the leadership he has provided to the programming and operations teams this past year when I asked him to step up as the head of programming. This has been a year of significant change for TWC with the launch of HD, the sale of the company and the transition to our new ownership structure. Ray’s leadership has provided the stability and motivation we all needed to see us through this time of transition. We are very fortunate that Ray will continue to work with us full time for the next three months as we transition leadership of the programming and broadcast production organization. I am also very pleased that, after he retires on March 31, 2009, Ray will work with The Weather Channel on a part time basis as a consultant to support TWC’s linkage to critical initiatives in the weather and climate community. These activities will be an extension of the work he has done over the past several years representing The Weather Channel’s interests with the National Weather Service, the AMS, FEMA, the National Environmental Educational Foundation and other key organizations. Over the next several months, we will transition the leadership of TWCN’s programming organization in two stages. In the short term, Geoffrey Darby, currently a consultant for NBCU, will assume responsibility as interim head of programming effective 1/1/09. Geoffrey is a very experienced and creative programmer who has come to know our organization well over the last several months. I am confident he will do a terrific job in evolving our strategies and even more deeply linking our organization into the NBCU resources and capabilities, which we are already beginning to benefit from. Geoffrey and Ray will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition and sometime in the first half of 2009, we anticipate announcing a permanent head of programming. We will have an opportunity to recognize Ray in the new year with a proper retirement event, but in the meantime, please join me in congratulating and thanking Ray for his extraordinary contributions to The Weather Channel! Debora