FOX's Entertainment Chariman Kevin Reilly Steps Down

KEVIN REILLY STEPS DOWN AS
CHAIRMAN, ENTERTAINMENT, FOX BROADCASTING COMPANY

Kevin Reilly announced today that he will depart Fox Broadcasting Company by the end of June.

“21st Century Fox is a great company that has provided me with choice seats at the head table of pop culture over two very rewarding stints both at FBC and FX, and I am grateful to have benefitted from the leadership of Peter Rice, Chase Carey and Rupert Murdoch,” said Reilly. “Peter and I have been discussing this transition for a while, and now with a robust new slate of programming for next season and strength in the FBC ranks, it felt like the timing was as right as it could be. I couldn't be more thankful to my team – a group of creative, tireless and fun people whose fellowship I will miss.”

Peter Rice, Chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group, said, “Kevin’s undeniable creative gift and passion for talent have left an indelible mark on our company, and we’re extremely grateful to him for his leadership, beginning with ‘The Shield’ and ‘Nip/Tuck’ at FX and continuing through GLEE, NEW GIRL, THE FOLLOWING, SLEEPY HOLLOW and BROOKLYN NINE-NINE at FOX. Kevin and I have been discussing his desire for a new challenge for some time, so while everyone at the network will miss his enthusiasm for adventurous television, we all respect his decision and agreed that after the upfront presentation was the right time. I’m personally extremely grateful to Kevin for his partnership during the past five years and look forward to working with him again in the future.”

During the transition period, before naming a replacement, Reilly’s senior executives will report to Rice.

Reilly, who joined FOX in 2007 and was named Chairman of Entertainment in 2012, has distinguished himself as a force in both cable and broadcast television, leading FOX to five of its eight consecutive winning seasons and shepherding seminal hits like GLEE, “The Sopranos,” “The Office” and “ER.” Under his leadership, the network launched Golden Globe Award-winning comedy BROOKLYN NINE-NINE; Emmy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning pop culture phenomenon GLEE; this season’s breakout hit drama SLEEPY HOLLOW; as well as Emmy Award-nominated NEW GIRL, THE FOLLOWING and THE MINDY PROJECT.

He previously served as President of Entertainment at NBC, where he introduced such popular hits as “The Office,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Heroes,” “Friday Night Lights” and the multi award-winning Tina Fey sitcom “30 Rock.”

Reilly joined NBC from FX, where he helped redefine the basic cable business, branding the network with an aggressive slate of quality original programs, including seminal series “Nip/Tuck” and “The Shield” – which broke cable ratings records and earned the first Golden Globe and Emmy Awards ever for basic cable series.

Prior to joining FX, Reilly was President of Brad Grey Television, the TV production arm of Brillstein-Grey, where he shepherded the landmark series “The Sopranos.”

He will be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in October. Reilly is an avid conservationist and is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nature Conservancy of California. He is also on the Cornell University Council.

Source:

FOX

Reilly's Departing Memo:

To my friends and colleagues:

I have decided to resign as Chairman of Entertainment at FBC, effective at the end of June.

While difficult decisions have to be made every day, none have weighed more heavily on me than this. The inspired FOX leadership, coupled with your commitment to excellence at FBC, has provided one of the most rewarding chapters in my life.

I love TV. Always have. Since my mother told me to stop sitting so close and watching so much.

I couldn’t feel more fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to preside over a dynamic business, collaborate with the most creative people on the planet and drive culture. And also to be positioned at the nexus of change. It’s a fascinating moment in time as the digital evolution brings about radical shifts in consumer behavior. And through it all, the art form of TV has never been stronger or the marketplace more robust.

As invigorating as all that is to be a part of, we all know the daily feeding of the network beast and early morning ritual of waking to an overnight report card does breed a certain type of mania. My first boss, Brandon Tartikoff, described presiding over a broadcast network as “the worst best job in the world.” I remember coming up in the business and seeing how the grind turned some executives into grizzled cynics. And I vowed to never become that guy. I have always believed it’s incumbent upon network brass to bring a wide-eyed optimism to the chairs they rent. Talent deserves that. And frankly, the jobs are just no fun otherwise. Staying fresh and looking forward is part of why I feel the timing is right for me to turn the page now.

As you, my colleagues, know all too well, I am rarely satisfied. But I hope you all also know that I am very proud of what we have accomplished together and of the exceptional entertainment we have helped bring to fruition. We put shows and songs at the top of the charts, we took home trophies, we got out ahead of defining and building and measuring the multi-platform universe and we re-wrote rules about how to develop, program and market TV. And I think some of the best is yet to come next season. It’s been a satisfying blast.

Thanks for all,

Kevin

P.S. – Don’t go back to pilot season!