A+E Studios President Bob DeBitetto To Depart

Bob DeBitetto, A+E Networks’ President of Brand Strategy, Business Development and A+E Studios, will be leaving the company after 14 years. A+E Networks president and CEO Nancy Dubuc just made the announcement in an internal memo. He will remain at A+E Studios until the end of the year before embarking on a new chapter in his career.

DeBitetto originally joined A&E in January 2003 as SVP Programming and was promoted to EVP Programming in March 2005. As president of A&E Network and Bio, he shepherded A&E’s transformation into a consistent Top 10 cable network with the addition of such hit original series as Duck Dynasty and Bates Motel. DeBitetto left his network post in 2013 when he was tasked with launching an in-house production studio for A+E Networks. Three years later, A+E Studios is up and running, with several series in production, including Lifetime’s UnReal, and dozens others in the works.

It is unclear what DeBitetto will do next. He worked in feature production early in his career, and at A&E, he founded and oversaw A&E IndieFilms, the network’s documentary feature film division, which earned two Oscar nominations in its first five years.

Here is Dubuc’s letter:

Over the last 14 years, Bob DeBitetto has been a vital force in our company. As President of A&E, he lead the network to an impressive 10 year ratings growth streak and he had a hand in creating some of our biggest franchises. Nearly three years ago, when I took over as CEO I asked Bob to create and lead A+E Studios so we would participate in owning our scripted content. In a few short years, the Studio created our most critically-acclaimed series ever, UnReal, and the Emmy-nominated ROOTS. The studio now has over 40 series in active development including History’s upcoming series Six and Knightfall. It has become a major force in Hollywood and he has played a key role in its success.

Bob has been a friend, partner and mentor to me over the course of his entire career at A&E. He is widely respected in our industry and is often referred to as “the smartest guy in the room.” So it is with great sadness that I am announcing his departure from A+E Networks. This summer, Bob told me he had decided to pursue the next chapter in his storied career and I want to be the first to wish him the very best.

Bob will be here until the end of the year and I expect to make an announcement shortly about the new leader of A+E Studios.

Please join me in wishing Bob continued success. I know we are all going to miss him greatly.

Best,

Nancy