Kim Godwin is leaving her position as president of ABC News after three years as the first Black woman to serve as the network’s news chief

NEW YORK (AP) — Kim Godwin is leaving after three tumultuous years as president of ABC News, a move that was announced earlier this yr when Walt Disney Co., the network’s owner, named one of its executives, Debra O’Connell, to oversee the division the news.

Godwin, the first Black woman to lead the network’s news division, announced Sunday that she was leaving the company. O’Connell said she would respond “for now” with the future in mind.

Godwin inherited a news division where his two top programs, “World News Tonight” and “Good Morning America,” led rivals CBS and NBC in the rankings. They are still in the lead, although there was some slippage at “Good Morning America” ​​following the chaotic departures of anchors TJ Holmes and Amy Robach and the move of Cecilia Vega to CBS News.

Godwin was hired as an outsider at CBS News and was affected by complaints about her management style that made it to print.

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In a memo to employees, Godwin said she understood and appreciated the importance of being the first Black woman to hold such a outstanding role in television news.

“It is both a privilege and a debt to those who blew the ceiling before me to lead a team whose brand is synonymous with trust, integrity and an unwavering determination to be the best in the industry,” she wrote.

After working at ABC, CBS, NBC and 10 local news stations in nine cities, Godwin announced she was leaving the company.

“I leave with my head held high and wish the entire team continued success,” she wrote.