Ayo Davis has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president, creative development and strategy, Disney Branded Television, said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Branded Television, to whom she will report.
In this new role, Davis will oversee all live-action programming created by Disney Branded Television for Disney+ and the Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior networks. This includes oversight of scripted and unscripted series, movies and specials, as well as managing the teams for original development, current programming, original movies, unscripted content, casting and talent relations, integrated content strategy, and educational resource group/diversity and inclusion.
“Ayo’s sophistication and taste elevate every project she touches — and her impact on the television landscape is beyond measure,” said Marsh in a statement. “As we embark on the mission of bringing more world-class content to Disney-branded platforms, I could not imagine a more perfect executive with whom to partner.”
Executives reporting directly into Davis include Jonas Agin, VP, original series; Kory
Lunsford, VP, current series; Lauren Kisilevsky, VP, original movies; Dan Silver, VP, originals, unscripted content; Judy Taylor, SVP, casting and talent relations; Theresa Helmer, executive director, integrated content strategy and Vicki Ariyasu, SVP, educational resource group.
Davis will help fuel the Disney+ streaming platform and Disney’s branded networks with programming geared toward kids, tweens, teens and families that is imaginative, aspirational and reflective of their world and experiences.
Davis has been with ABC for 18 years and most recently held the position of executive vice president, talent and casting, ABC Entertainment and Disney+, working on such series as The Good Doctor, American Crime, How to Get Away with Murder, Black-ish and more.
She also helped launch ABC Discovers, a casting initiative that aims to discover talent from all over the world, with alumni such as Lupita Nyong’o, Gina Rodriguez and Pedro Pascal.
Besides her work at Disney and ABC, Davis is a member of the board of trustees of Dillard University and on the T. Howard Foundation’s board of directors for which she also was a 2020 award honoree. She was on the 2017 host committee board of Girls Inc. and was a 2016 honoree, as well as a member of Jack and Jill of America Inc., and a supporter of the nonprofit Links Incorporated, an organization that provides community service and mentors youth. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Dillard University.