Nancy Dubuc has been named the new CEO of A+E Networks. Dubuc will succeed Abbe Raven, who had been CEO since 1995. Dubuc’s appointment makes her the company’s third CEO in almost 30 years. She most recently served as president of entertainment and media.

“I would like to thank all my colleagues for their continued support as we write this next chapter together,” Dubuc said in a statement. “We have a powerful portfolio of brands that are well-positioned for future growth, both domestically and internationally.”

A+E Networks, which owns the Lifetime and History channels and more, announced that Raven will be moved up to chairman of A+E Networks, a newly created role.

In advance of Women’s History month in March, Adweek’s February 27 issue will focus on the spending, technological, and media habits of American women and how brands are breaking through to reach them. It’s the first in the publication’s new Demographic Series of special reports.

The issue features a handful of first-time contributors including Nancy Dubuc, president/GM of History and Lifetime Networks, Real Simple publisher Sally Preston, and Lisa Belkin, Huffington Post senior columnist. They will serve as guest columnists who will riff on the dynamic of the women’s demographic as seen through their professional experiences.

A&E Television Networks, which is a joint venture between the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corp. and NBC Universal — has entered into an agreement to acquire Lifetime Entertainment Services, which will put several cable channels under one management team.

The new parent company, which will be called A&E Television Networks, will now encompass many channels including A&E Network, History, Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Bio, History International, Lifetime Real Women, History en Español, Military History and Crime & Investigation Network.

Under the terms of the deal, NBCU can “elect or be required to exit the company over a period of up to 15 years,” reported Broadcasting and Cable. If NBCU exits, Hearst and Disney would become 50/50 partners.

Abbe Raven, president and CEO of A&E, will serve as head of the newly combined company. Lifetime’s CEO Andrea Wong, Nancy Dubuc at the History Channel and Robert DiBitetto at A&E will be keeping their positions, and they will all report to Raven, B&C reported.

via B&C and ABC News