Longtime ESPN exec NORBY WILLIAMSON will now oversee “SportsCenter” as part of a management shakeup in ESPN’s content group. Williamson becomes Exec VP & Exec Editor/Studio Productions, taking over for ROB KING, who has overseen “SportsCenter” since January ’14. The moves spell out CONNOR SCHELL's management team and come three months after he was promoted to Exec VP/Content. Both Williamson and King will report to Schell. The most visible change involves “SportsCenter.” Williamson, who has been with ESPN since ’85, has a long history with “SportsCenter,” holding job titles with the show that range from Associate Producer to VP & Assistant Managing Editor. Williamson takes over as ESPN continues to morph “SportsCenter” from a highlights-driven show to a news-and-debate style. He will lead efforts for a new N.Y. studio and the launch of a new slate of morning and daytime shows. While King is leaving “SportsCenter,” he is picking up many of JOHN KOSNER’s responsibilities, as Senior VP/Original Content, Newsgathering & Digital Media. Kosner left ESPN in June as Exec VP/Digital & Print Media. In his new role, King will now oversee all of ESPN's newsgathering and storytelling assets across TV, digital and print, from the ESPN App and espnW to ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine.
MORE MOVES: Other moves will have Senior VP/Event & Studio Production STEPHANIE DRULEY continue to report to Schell; Exec VP/Content Operations & Creative Services JODI MARKLEY, who had reported to Williamson now reports to Schell; and Senior VP/Business & Content Operations LAURA GENTILE and Senior VP/Social Content RYAN SPOON, who had reported to Kosner, now report to Schell. Druley will continue to be responsible for event production on a global basis. Markley will continue to oversee remote event operations, production operations, creative services and studio directing. That includes oversight of the production facility in Charlotte. Gentile will now oversee business operations for the content group and serve as the primary point person for the group across ESPN departments. Spoon will move into the content group to manage the creation of original content for ESPN digital and social channels.
