Oprah Winfrey’s OWN disowns its president
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The Oprah Winfrey Network, a cable TV network set to launch next year, said that its president, Robin Schwartz, resigned today. Schwartz joined the network in July.
There are no plans to fill the position.
The shake-up came two months after former MTV executive Christina Norman was hired as chief executive of OWN. Norman is a longtime television executive with experience in program development and marketing and it was cumbersome -- and confusing -- to have two senior executives responsible for programming decisions, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.
Norman decided to streamline the company’s management as she prepares for the launch of the channel in early 2010.
‘I want to thank Robin for her hard work and dedication and passion over the past several months,’ Norman said in a statement. ‘She grew the vision for OWN out of its infancy.’
Schwartz, former president of Regency Television, was one of the first hires for the Oprah channel, which promises to celebrate ‘living your best life.’ The channel is owned by Discovery Communications and Oprah Winfrey. Schwartz did not respond to a call for comment left at her office.
-- Meg James
