Abbe Raven


Abbe Raven is the Acting Chairman of A+E Networks. 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. Raven is also the former President and CEO of A+E Networks. Raven is one of the original founders of the HISTORY 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. In 1974, she received her B.A. in Theatre from the State University of New York at Buffalo. 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 and State University of New York at Buffalo.
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 State University of New York at Buffalo, 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. She was promoted to Senior Vice President and put in charge of all production, post-production and studio facilities. Raven then transferred to the HISTORY 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. In March 2005, Raven became the President & CEO of A+E Networks. 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 Nancy Dubuc 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'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.
Raven is on the board of directors of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
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 and is on their executive committee.
In 2018, Raven was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Raven is a co-producer of the Broadway musical The Prom, which opened on November 15, 2018.