Hallmark Programming Exec Lisa Hamilton Daly Out as Position Is Eliminated

by

As a movie critic, I found myself surprised and saddened to share the news that Lisa Hamilton Daly, who joined the esteemed ranks of Hallmark Media in 2021, has parted ways with the company. On Monday morning, it was officially announced that her role as Executive Vice President of Programming has been terminated.

Hallmark is unifying all consumer-facing aspects, like content, under one head, Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott. This move will help express the Hallmark brand consistently, from products to experiences and now content, across various platforms. Darren has a deep comprehension of the Hallmark brand, which combined with his leadership and vision, will make sure our content stays true to the reputation of our established brand. The company stated this on Monday. In this change, the position of EVP, Programming is no longer needed, and Lisa Hamilton Daly will be leaving the company. Lisa is a very gifted creative leader, and we appreciate her efforts in expanding Hallmark Media’s storytelling and character development.

Hamilton Daly was hired in September 2021, with previous jobs at Netflix and A+E Networks.

Three months following a lawsuit filed against Daly and Hallmark for charges including age discrimination, defamation, and wrongful termination by ex-casting agent Penny Perry, it was stated that Perry felt compelled to leave due to her age. At that point, Randy Pope, SVP of programming and development, and HR executive Paul Hodgkinson were named as co-defendants.

The lawsuit, submitted on October 9th, asserted that Hamilton Daly discriminated against Holly Robinson Peete and Lacey Chabert, who are 60 and 42 years old respectively, by labeling them as “outdated talent” in need of replacement. Reportedly, the former executive from Hallmark made comments such as, “Lacey’s getting older, and we need to find someone similar to replace her as she ages,” and about Robinson Peete, “Nobody wants her because she’s too expensive and is getting too old. She can no longer play lead roles.

The following individuals were also mentioned in the lawsuit as actors: Elizabeth Mitchell, Catherine Bell, Alison Sweeney, Autumn Reeser, Kelly Martin, Nikki Deloach, Rachel Boston, Brennan Elliott, Cameron Mathieson, Paul Greene, Eric Close (in relation to acting, not directing), and Teri Hatcher.

Initially, Hallmark responded with a statement saying, “Currently, Lacey and Holly remain part of our family here at Hallmark. We typically avoid commenting on ongoing legal matters. Regarding these extreme accusations, we prefer not to engage in discussions about employee relationships through the media. Instead, we choose to address such matters privately.

Read More

2025-01-07 01:16