Disney/ABC Sales Exec Howard Levy Retiring

Longtime Disney/ABC Syndication Sales executive Howard Levy announced today that he will retire from the company at the end of January. Irv Schulman will assume the responsibilities as head of Syndication Sales, reporting to Geri Wang, president of ABC Sales.

“Howard’s talent and hard work have built syndication sales into a great business for our company,” said Wang. “He has been an important contributor and a great friend, we wish him the best in his retirement. Looking ahead, we have high expectations for the future; Irv’s experience and client relationships should serve us very well.”

Disney/ABC Syndication Sales was previously called Buena Vista Television, and then Disney-ABC Domestic Television. The group currently represents Live with Kelly and Michael, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, On the Red Carpet and Katie and beginning in the fall of 2014 will rep Scandal.

Levy is a 24-year veteran of Disney/ABC, and is responsible for launching the sales efforts for a number of key programs during his career, including Star Search, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Solid Gold Hits, Disney Afternoon, syndicated Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, The Tony Danza Show and Katie.

Levy began his career as a media planner for Compton Advertising in 1978. In 1980, he joined TeleRep for two years as an account executive. From 1982-1987 he served as director of advertising sales for TeleRep’s sister company TPE, and he was named VP of Blair Entertainment from 1987-1990. He joined Buena Vista Television as VP in 1990, and was named EVP in 1999.

He served as chairman of the Syndicated Network Television Association from 2007 to 2009, and graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Schulman has a long tenure in Disney syndication sales, with 18 years in the division. He began his career as a network buyer at Grey Advertising in 1990. In 1996 he joined Buena Vista Television as an account executive, and was promoted to director in 1998. He was named VP in 1999, and SVPof national ad sales in 2005.

He is a graduate of the University of Southern California.