Ayo Davis has been named the Head of Talent and Casting for ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios. In the position, Davis will oversee both network and studio casting teams, effective immediately. She will continue reporting to ABC Entertainment president, Channing Dungey (herself also recently promoted, becoming the networks first black president, male or female), and executive vice president of ABC Studios, Patrick Moran, in her new role.
“Ayo has done an amazing job identifying and bringing new talent into the fold for both the studio and network,” said Channing Dungey, ABC Entertainment president. “Her keen eye and track record make her perfect for this position.”
“Ayo’s vision and leadership abilities have proven invaluable to ABC,” added Patrick Moran, Executive Vice President of ABC Studios.
Ayo Davis was named senior vice president, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment Group, in November 2015. In this role she oversaw all scripted primetime casting for the ABC Television Network, which includes the multi-award-winning hit series “Modern Family,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Scandal,” “American Crime,” “black-ish” and “Once Upon a Time.” Previously she served as vice president, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment Group.
Additionally, Ms. Davis helped to lead the implementation and launch of the ABC Discovers Initiative, which includes several programs aimed at finding and nurturing up-and-coming talent from around the world. The programs under the ABC Discovers umbrella include the annual New York and Los Angeles Talent Showcases, currently in its 14th year; the Digital Talent Competition, the first ever national digital talent competition by a major television network; Actor Audition Workshop Week, a bi-coastal event where actors are invited from diverse organizations to participate in an on-camera audition workshop to learn about the casting process, as well as the Latino/Hispanic Outreach, the Asian/Pacific Islander Outreach and the Global Talent Outreach.
Ms. Davis joined ABC Casting 13 years ago, overseeing such pilots as the Emmy Award-winning series “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Ms. Davis supports Links Incorporated, an organization based in Orange County that provides community service and mentors youths. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Dillard University.
In her first move as Head of Talent and Casting, Ms. Davis has recruited Jonathan Bluman to join the ABC Talent and Casting team as vice president. He will report directly to Ayo Davis. Bluman comes from WME where he represented a variety of actors in television and film, including Mahershala Ali, Benjamin Bratt, Omar Epps, Cheryl Hines, Adrianne Palicki, Melissa Rauch and Maya Rudolph.
“Jonathan’s reputation for finding and developing talent precedes him. We’re excited for him to join our team and bring his exceptional skill set to ABC,” said Ms. Davis.
With the promoting of Dungey (who’s African American) to President of the network, as well as Davis (also African American) to Head of Talent and Casting, and a stable of African American producers/content providers in Shonda Rhimes, John Ridley, Kenya Barris, and recent production deals with African American stars Kerry Washington and Viola Davis that will see both actresses produce new programming for the network, ABC is certainly claiming its piece of the diversity pie.
