Ben Sherwood is expected to leave Disney after the company’s merger with 21st Century Fox is complete, TheWrap has learned.
The president of Disney/ABC Television Group and co-chair of the Media Networks division has been considering the offer of a different position within the company over the past few months, as 21st Century Fox president Peter Rice is expected to take on Sherwood’s responsibilities when the deal is closed, an individual with knowledge of Sherwood’s decision tells TheWrap.
Sherwood is said to have been interested in a role at Sky — should Fox have beaten out Comcast to acquire the British pay-TV giant — and Saturday’s news that Comcast had won the auction with a $39 billion bid sealed his departure from Disney.