A+E Networks president and CEO Nancy Dubuc is leaving the company effective April 16, A+E confirmed Monday (March 12).

Former A+E Networks CEO Abbe Raven, who retired from the company in 2015, will replace Dubuc until a new replacement is named, said company officials.

Dubuc, who spent nearly 20 years at A+E Networks – the last five as president and CEO --oversaw a portfolio of networks that included A&E Network, Lifetime, History, Lifetime Movies and Viceland, along with A+E Studios, A+E Networks International, A&E Films.

“In her roughly 20 years at A+E Networks, Nancy played a major role in building the success of A&E, HISTORY and Lifetime, and we thank her for her leadership,” said Steven R. Swartz, president and CEO of Hearst, and Ben Sherwood, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC Television, in a joint statement.“We are also very grateful to Abbe, a former CEO of the company and one of A+E’s first employees, for agreeing to return on a temporary basis as acting chair.”

Dubuc, who was reported to be in the running for the Amazon Studios top job prior to Amazon naming NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke to the post, said in a statement that she is leaving to look for her “next dare and challenge,” and added she’s proud of what she and A&E have accomplished together.

“Together, we have had the privilege to build some of the most iconic brands in media,” she said. “Every step of my career, I have had the opportunity to learn and grow from some of the most inspiring and innovative minds at A+E and in both the creative and business community.” 

Raven, who worked with A+E Networks for 33 years, added in a statement: “Nancy and I have worked together for almost 20 years and I have seen the tremendous accomplishments and innovation she has brought to A+E – from its creative content to attracting award-winning talent and the digital and studio businesses she has nurtured. A+E is a special place with extraordinary and talented people.  I look forward to helping the board and leading the talented A+E teams during this transition.”

Dubuc's full statement follows:

“For nearly 20 years, I have called A+E Networks home and the team has been an extended part of my family. Together, we have had the privilege to build some of the most iconic brands in media. Every step of my career, I have had the opportunity to learn and grow from some of the most inspiring and innovative minds at A+E and in both the creative and business community. I could not be prouder of what we achieved together.   

“Anyone who knows me well knows I am an entrepreneur, creator, rebel and disruptor at heart. I have a famous neon sign in my office that blares ‘Who dares wins.’ After 20 years at A+E, the hardest thing will be to leave the people and company I love. But, as a creative executive and leader, and to stay true to my personal mantra, I need my next dare and my next challenge. 

“I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our owners at Hearst and The Walt Disney Company for their unwavering support and belief in me over my long career here. I’d especially like to thank Steve and Ben for supporting my decision to write my next chapter.    

“I have supreme confidence in the brave storytellers and management team A+E and I will always be rooting for and watching proudly from the sidelines – even as I head off to my next adventure.”

Lifetime has named former InStyle executive editor Faye Penn vice president, editorial to help develop digital content across the Lifetime, Lifetime Movies and FYI brands.

Penn will report to Lea Goldman, editor-in-chief of Lifetime, Lifetime Movies and FYI.

 “Faye is a brilliant idea machine deft at thinking broadly about content. It’s not just about what you make, but where it lives and how it’s distributed,” Goldman said in a statement. “She is a digital native with a deep understanding of content and how to amplify it. As a writer, editor and entrepreneur who launched her own start-up and spearheaded important branded partnerships that helped make InStyle one of the most talked about beauty and fashion media outlets in America, I know she will be a valuable asset to the editorial team here at A+E Networks.”

Previously, Penn held leadership roles at New York Magazine, The New York Observer and The New York Post. In 2009 she founded Brokelyn, a web-mag devoted to budget living in Brooklyn, and later spun off a successful series of beer, wine and cocktail passports.

A+E Networks’ editorial team was formed in January 2017, with Goldman as editor-in-chief, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies and FYI and Tiffanie Darke as editor-in-chief, A&E and History. They also support the company’s efforts to initiate non-traditional strategic partnerships, events and sponsorship opportunities.

Disney Channel’s Decendants 2 ascended to 21 million viewers in Nielsen Live+3ratings, the network reported Wednesday.

The July 21 premiere of the movie, a sequel to Disney’s hit 2015 film, has now reached 8.1 million kids 2-14 and 6.9 million adults 18-49, said network officials.

Descendants 2, which stars Dove Cameron and China Anne McClain, aired simultaneously on Disney Channel, Disney XD, Freeform, Lifetime and Lifetime Movies during its July 21 premiere and drew 13 million viewers across the six networks.

The film garnered 5.3 million viewers in its premiere on Disney Channel, according to Nielsen.

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Friday night's premiere of Disney Channel’s original movie Descendants 2 averaged 13 million viewers across six network airings, according to Nielsen.

The audience for the July 21 premiere of Descendants 2, a sequel to the Disney’s 2015 musical themed movie, represented combined viewers from simultaneous airings of the movie on Disney Channel, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies, ABC, Disney XD and Freeform, said Disney. 

On Disney Channel, Descendants 2 drew 5.3 million viewers, the most watched telecast on the network since Descendants garnered 6.6 million viewers in its July 2015 premiere, according to Nielsen. Descendants 2, which stars Dove Cameron and China Anne McClain, also drew two year highs for the network in kids 2-11 (2.2 million viewers), kids 6-11 (1.8 million) and tweens 9-14 (1.9 million viewers.

Descendants 2 also broke social media records for Disney Channel driving more Video Views (174.1 million), Impressions (90.8 million) and Engagements (14.6 million) than any social campaign in the network's history, reported Disney.