ABC Family Programming Head Steps Down

BURBANK: Kate Juergens is leaving her post as the chief creative officer and executive VP of original content at ABC Family after a decade-long tenure with the network.

Juergens joined ABC Family in 2004 and has been leading the charge with original series development, including hits such as The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Pretty Little Liars and The Fosters.

In the wake of Juergens' departure, ABC Family has decided to combine business strategy, planning and development, and scheduling and acquisitions under the same banner. The head of this unit will be named in the near future. With this, Lynn Stepanin, the network's senior VP of acquisitions and scheduling, is leaving.

Tom Ascheim, the president of ABC Family, said in an email to staff: "A few months ago, Kate came to talk to me about her future and what she was feeling excited about. Ultimately, she felt that she needed to make a change. She has been here for over ten years and has accomplished much. She has also seen a lot of transition and had decided that she was ready to explore something new. I was disappointed but really understand anyone’s yen for a change of scene. I asked her to please stay on through pilot season and the summer launches and she graciously agreed. Kate just handed me our pilots—her best work she thinks—and so having fulfilled her promise it’s time to let her go and explore."

He added of Stepanin's departure: "Lynn has always given us her very best and I wish her all the enormous success she deserves."