Ayo Davis Promoted To President Of Disney Branded Television

Following the news that Disney Channels boss Gary Marsh is stepping down, his replacement has been announced. Ayo Davis will take over as president of Disney Branded Television, which creates kids’ and teen content, both animated and live-action, for Disney-branded networks and Disney+.

Davis will take over the creative and operational leadership of the content group from Marsh, who is leaving at the end of the year to form a Disney-backed production company. She will report to Peter Rice, chairman of Disney General Entertainment.

The promotion caps a meteoric rise for Davis, who was appointed less than a year ago to her previous role: executive vp of creative development and strategy at Disney Branded Television. She has spent almost 20 years working on the creative side of tv at Disney, previously holding roles at ABC Entertainment and Disney+.

Davis has a strong track record in forging relationships with high-profile creators, producers, and actors in live action. Shows she helped bring to the screen include The Good Doctor, American Crime, How to Get Away with Murder, and Black-ish.

She has championed the careers of actors like Viola Davis, Eva Longoria, Jesse Williams, and Gina Rodriguez. Among her initiatives is ABC Discovers, a showcase that spots and nurtures talent from around the world; alumni include Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Meghan Markle, and Pedro Pascal.

In a statement, Davis said:

I am beyond grateful to Peter Rice and Gary Marsh for their extraordinary leadership, support and mentorship. It’s a tremendous honor to continue Gary’s legacy of delighting kids and families through Disney Branded TV’s unparalleled storytelling, and it’s an amazing time for kids and family programming. I’m thrilled to continue working with my team, colleagues, our tv studios and, of course, the creators who trust us with their projects as we work to develop the next generation of beloved stories and franchises.