ABC has promoted the executive producer of top-ranked “World News Tonight with David Muir” as the new president of the news division — a “surprise choice” that ended a three-month stretch of the network going without a leader.
Almin Karamehmedovic replaces embattled ABC News president Kim Godwin, who stepped down in May amid a series of embarrassing missteps at the usually buttoned-up, Disney-owned network.
Debra OConnell, president of ABC News Group, networks and Disney Entertainment, broke the news to staff Monday, after a prolonged search for Godwin’s successor and rampant rumors that the network — which is in the throes of cutbacks — would opt to hire from within.
In his role, Karamehmedovic will oversee the news division’s day-to-day operations, as well as its programming including “World News Tonight” and “Good Morning America.”
The appointment struck some at the network as odd — even though the producer has a strong resume. A source told The Post that Karamehmedovic wasn’t particularly well liked and that he had a reputation as a “bit of a bully.”
In 2015, Page Six reported that Karamehmedovic got so drunk at an ABC holiday party at Upper West Side restaurant the Ribbon that he stumbled out of the venue and fell. The exec was rushed to the hospital after he hit his head on the pavement and knocked himself unconscious.
Others at the network applauded the decision, saying Karamehmedovic won’t be steamrolled by the correspondents at the highly competitive network.
“He’s very bright. He understands how to raise the ratings by giving people what they want,” a source said.
“He was a surprise choice but he was always in the running,” another source noted. Another added that the decision came as a relief to the rank and file, who had grown increasingly impatient for Godwin to be replaced.
“It took so long for her to make this decision that it weakened her as a leader,” one insider said.
ABC News did not comment.
Karamehmedovic has overseen the production and all daily operations of Muir’s “World News Tonight” –which has been the most-watched newscast for eight years — since August 2014.
Prior to “World News Tonight with David Muir,” Karamehmedovic was executive producer of
“Nightline,” ABC News’ late-night flagship newsmagazine. He also executive produced “Nightline”
in primetime for two consecutive seasons as well as numerous other ABC primetime hours, “20/20”
specials and ongoing breaking news special reports.
“I approach this role with great respect and humility, not only for the hundreds of colleagues around
the world whose tireless contributions fuel the unflinching and unbiased reporting of ABC News but
also for the viewers we serve,” Karamehmedovic said.
“Almin has devoted his career to ABC News, mastering every role and elevating excellence in
journalism by connecting with viewers in a very meaningful and profound way that resonates with
them,” said OConnell.
“He is a widely respected, seasoned journalist of the highest order who has worked his way up to senior executive producer of ‘World News Tonight with David Muir,’ earning the trust of colleagues and industry peers along the way. I have no doubt ABC News will reach new heights under his leadership.”
Sources close to ABC said OConnell was pressed to make a choice as the network readies to host its first presidential debate next month.
What’s more, “GMA’s” ratings continue to soften and there are a lot of contracts for on-air talent due for negotiation.
“She needed to name someone,” an ABC source said, noting that the network still has no vice president of talent, so putting into place a news president was paramount. “A lot of agents are frustrated” without any leadership in place to negotiate.
Under Godwin, ABC’s top-ranked cash cow “GMA” began to slip in the ratings. Although the show is number one in total viewers, it has sunk to second place in the advertiser-coveted demographic of viewers ages 25 to 54.
The exec’s tumultuous reign included running a “culture of fear,” as one source told The Post at the time, which elevated her “yes people” and pushed out high-level ABC execs who criticized her management.
Others griped at the time that Godwin was too self-promotional and not involved enough in the day-to-day grind of running ABC News.
Godwin first drew widespread criticism from many at the network as news spread of the salacious affair between “GMA3” hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach.
Details of the affair spilled out in November 2022, but Godwin permitted the “GMA3” pair to remain on the air, causing a spectacle which led to more news stories.
As more lurid tidbits came out, Godwin benched the duo and defended them on a Dec. 5 interoffice call, saying they “had not violated company policy.”
ABC launched an internal probe soon after, as more juicy stories were leaked to the tabloids about Holmes’ other affairs at ABC. After a prolonged suspension, ABC settled with the pair to exit the company for an undisclosed sum.
Over time, Godwin’s mistakes began to wear on Disney brass and they brought in OConnell, a company veteran, to oversee the exec earlier this year, which signaled to many that her time had run out.
