David Westin
David Westin (born July 29, 1952) is the President and CEO of NewsRight and the former president of ABC News (from March 6, 1997 through December 3, 2010). He was responsible for all aspects of ABC News’ television broadcasts, including World News with Diane Sawyer, Nightline, Good Morning America, 20/20, Primetime, This Week with Christiane Amanpour, and World News Now, and ABC News Radio. During his tenure, ABC News received eleven George Foster Peabody Awards, 13 Alfred I DuPont Awards, four George Polk Awards, more than 40 News and Documentary Emmys, and more than 40 Edward R. Murrow Awards. On September 6, 2010, Westin announced he would retire from ABC, but would remain until the end of the year to give the company time to find a replacement. One news report said Westin was forced out by Disney CEO Robert Iger, but others reported that he had decided to pursue other interests—with one saying that he "got to announce his departure on his own terms. " Westin graduated from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1970. He received a BA degree with honors and distinction from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and a JD degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School in 1977. After graduation, he served as a law clerk to J. Edward Lumbard of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and later clerked Lewis F. Powell of the Supreme Court of the United States. Westin has written the book Exit Interview, about his experiences as president of ABC News. It will be released in May 2012. Westin is married to Sherrie Rollins Westin. He has two daughters, Victoria and Elizabeth, and a son, Matthew, from previous marriages. She has a daughter, Lily, from a previous marriage. They have a son, David Palmer from their union.
