Sep 24, 2021

Ayo Davis Promoted to President of Disney Brand Television

Following the news that Disney Channel boss Gary Marsh is stepping down, a replacement has been announced: Ayo Davis has been named president of Disney Branded Television, which will produce animated and He will produce both animated and live-action content for kids and teens for the Disney-branded networks and Disney+.

Davis takes over 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 directly to Disney General Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice.

The promotion represents a rapid rise for Davis, who was named executive vice president of creative development and strategy at Disney Branded Television, a position she previously held less than a year ago. She has worked on the creative side of television for nearly 20 years at Disney, previously holding positions at ABC Entertainment and Disney+.

Davis has a strong track record of building relationships with high-profile creators, producers, and actors in live action. Some of the shows she has helped adapt to film include “The Good Doctor,” “American Crime,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” and “Black-ish.”

He has helped the careers of actors such as Viola Davis, Eva Longoria, Jesse Williams, Gina Rodriguez Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyongo, Meghan Markle, Pedro Pascal, and others.

Davis said in a statement:

“I am indebted to Peter Rice and Gary Marsh for their extraordinary leadership, support, and guidance, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to delight children and families through Disney Branded TV's unparalleled storytelling. It is a tremendous honor to continue Gary's legacy of delighting children and families through Disney Branded TV's unparalleled storytelling, and it is a great time for children and family programming. I am thrilled to work with my team, my colleagues, the television studios and, of course, the creators who trust us with their projects to develop the next generation of beloved stories and franchises.