Abbe Raven is the Acting Chairman of

A+E Networks A&E Networks (stylized as A+E NETWORKS) is an American multinational broadcasting company that is a 50–50 joint venture between Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company through its General Entertainment Content division. The company ...

. Raven previously retired from her role as Chairman on February 2, 2015. She was asked to return in March 2018 upon the departure of the CEO,

Nancy Dubuc Nancy Jean Dubuc is an American businesswoman who currently serves as chief executive officer of the American-Canadian media company Vice Media. Early life and education Dubuc is the daughter of Carol D. Smith and Robert H. Dubuc Jr. Her parents ...

. Raven is also the former President and CEO of A+E Networks. Raven is one of the original founders of the

HISTORY History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

brand and is one of the longest running employees at A+E Networks. She began her career in 1982 as a production assistant and rose through the ranks to become the second CEO and first Chairman in A+E Networks' history.

Background and education

Raven was born and raised in

Queens, New York Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...

. In 1974, she received her B.A. in Theatre from the

State University of New York at Buffalo The State University of New York at Buffalo, commonly called the University at Buffalo (UB) and sometimes called SUNY Buffalo, is a public research university with campuses in Buffalo and Amherst, New York. The university was founded in 1846 ...

. Raven received her M.A. in Theatre & Film from Hunter College. She was awarded Honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters from Hunter College,

Florida Southern College Florida Southern College (Florida Southern, Southern or FSC) is a private college in Lakeland, Florida. In 2019, the student population at FSC consisted of 3,073 students along with 130 full-time faculty members. The college offers 50 undergradu ...

and

. Raven met her husband, Martin Tackel, while at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Tackel is an attorney and a commercial arbitrator.

Career

After graduating from the

, Raven was a stage manager for off-Broadway and regional theater. She took an opportunity to work for a company called DAYTIME that was just starting out. It later became the

Arts & Entertainment Network A&E is an American basic cable network, the flagship television property of A&E Networks. The network was originally founded in 1984 as the Arts & Entertainment Network, initially focusing on fine arts, documentaries, dramas, and educational ent ...

. She was promoted to Senior Vice President and put in charge of all production, post-production and studio facilities. Raven then transferred to the

brand as the Executive Vice President and General Manager and was in charge of all programming. She was then promoted to President of A&E Network and

The Biography Channel FYI (stylized as fyi,) is an American basic cable channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between the Disney Media Networks subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications (each owns 50%). The network features lifestyle pr ...

. In March 2005, Raven became the President & CEO of

. In June 2013, she became Chairman of A+E Networks. Raven retired and became Chairman Emeritus of A+E Networks in February 2015. Upon the departure of CEO

in March 2018, Raven returned to A+E as Acting Chairman. In October 2009, she was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. In 2010, she was named in ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly larg ...

s Women in Entertainment Power 100 list and named one of the top 5 most powerful women in entertainment. She is Chairman of the board of the

Smithsonian National Museum of American History The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves, and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific, and military history. Among the items on display is t ...

. Raven is on the board of directors of the

Breast Cancer Research Foundation The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is an independent, not-for-profit organization which has raised $569.4 million to support clinical and translational research on breast cancer at medical institutions in the United States and abroad. BC ...

. She was elected to the board of directors of Pencil, a non-profit group that brings corporate know how to New York City public schools. She is a director of the

International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (IATAS) is an American nonprofit membership organization, based in New York City, composed of leading media and entertainment executives across all sectors of the television industry, from o ...

and is on their executive committee. In 2018, Raven was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the

. Raven is a co-producer of the Broadway musical '' The Prom'', which opened on November 15, 2018.

Notes

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Raven, Abbe A&E Networks University at Buffalo alumni 1953 births Living people Hunter College alumni People from Queens, New York Women in Entertainment Power 100