ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS FOR JENN METZ, JOHN SANTUCCI, KATHERINE FAULDERS AND BEN SIEGEL

Team,

Seni, Rick, Averi and I are proud to share some meaningful and exciting news from our New York and Washington bureaus. Four of our own are stepping into expanded roles that reflect not only their accomplishments and leadership but also the direction we’re building toward at ABC News: a stronger, faster and more deeply collaborative newsroom, with our straightforward journalism at its center. Jenn Metz, John Santucci, Katherine Faulders and Ben Siegel are among the finest members of our ABC News family.

These are not just promotions. They are recognitions of character, growth and commitment — and they reinforce what’s possible here when talent meets integrity, vision and relentless drive.

Jennifer Metz is being named Executive Producer, Special Events and News Specials Planning, while continuing her role at “World News Tonight with David Muir.” In this expanded role, Jenn will plan and lead all our prearranged special reports, reporting to Seni Tienabeso, Vice President of ABC News Live and Specialized Units, working closely with “World News Tonight” EP Chris Dinan and me. She will also lead major news events, including political conventions, debates, elections and special coverage of world leaders, celebrities and major moments. Special Events EP Molly Shaker will continue to lead and oversee breaking news special events as they happen across the network and ABC News Live. By dividing responsibilities under Seni’s leadership, Jenn and Molly will ensure we’re always at the top of our game when it comes to both breaking and pre-planned live coverage.

Jenn is an award-winning producer who manages to juggle it all — often on little sleep. She started as an intern at “World News Tonight” and has covered everything from presidential campaigns to war zones, terrorism and climate change. She helped relaunch “WNT” on Saturdays and Sundays with Whit Johnson and Linsey Davis in 2021 and has contributed to many of our most ambitious efforts, from election night specials and the coronation of King Charles III to the coverage of the second Trump inauguration. Most recently, she led our coverage celebrating the life of Pope Francis and the election of the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV. Jenn’s work has shown she’s one of the best live producers in the business, and we are all thrilled she’ll be taking on this expanded role.

John Santucci is being promoted to Senior Executive Editorial Producer and Managing Editor, Investigative Unit and Strategic Initiatives. He will lead the Investigative Unit and help guide ABC News’ collaboration across programs and platforms, and will work closely with ABC OTV investigative teams. John and his team will work closely with Katie DenDaas, Josh Margolin, Aron Katersky and our Washington bureau to ensure ABC News remains a leader in breaking and long-form investigative reporting. As part of this role, John will report to Seni Tienabeso. He will also collaborate with platform leaders to develop original offerings and major editorial projects across the ABC News Group, which includes debates, town halls and conventions during political election cycles. In this capacity, John will work closely with me and our broader domestic, international and political teams.

John has spent more than 15 years at ABC News, rising from intern and overnight weekend booker to key roles at “GMA” and “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” and eventually playing a pivotal role in our award-winning Investigative Unit. He helped plan our historic presidential debate last fall and has broken numerous exclusives throughout his career. Under his leadership, our recent “764” investigation — exposing a disturbing online group targeting children — was one of the largest collaborations in ABC News history, involving 12 ABC-owned and affiliate stations. We’re excited to see him step into this new role and continue delivering impactful work for our audience.

Katherine Faulders has been named to the newly created position of Washington Bureau Managing Editor, where she will help drive coverage of our Washington-based reporting in real time. She’ll help and manage the editorial teams while continuing to report for all ABC News programs and platforms. Katherine will report to Washington Bureau Chief and Vice President Rick Klein. She will oversee the various reporting units, ensure collaboration and foster innovation — all as part of the new structure outlined at our recent town hall. This will also help prioritize our reporting verticals and ensure teams stay focused on the most important and consequential stories.

Since arriving at the D.C. bureau in 2013 as a desk assistant and rising to become one of our exemplary embeds during the 2016 campaign, Katherine has covered virtually every corner of Washington, including producing standout investigative reporting. Most recently, she broke exclusive stories ahead of all other outlets, including the return of Salvadoran Kilmar Ábrego García to the U.S. to face criminal charges for transporting undocumented migrants, the sweeping pardons for nearly all the Jan. 6 rioters, and the Trump administration’s acceptance of a jumbo jet from Qatar. Katherine is a tenacious, boots-on-the-ground journalist with sharp instincts and deep contacts. We are lucky to have her.

Ben Siegel, also based in our Washington Bureau, is being promoted to Deputy Political Director and Coordinating Producer, reporting to Political Director Averi Harper. Working closely with Averi, Ben will help manage our political coverage, the embed program, and our coverage of major political developments. He’ll also continue to contribute reporting to our Washington coverage, and supporting big interviews, field coverage, and special projects.

Ben, another one of our standout former desk assistants, joined ABC News in 2014 and then spent eight years as a reporter and producer covering three administrations and Congress. He has traveled domestically and abroad with the president and contributed to every show and platform’s coverage of stories, including two impeachment trials and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In 2020, he was a campaign embed and, more recently, worked as a Senior Producer at “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” and as a Supervising Producer with the Penn Ave and Political Units, working with Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott during the 2024 election. His work included coverage of the assassination attempt on then-candidate Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and Rachel’s interviews with President Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris last year. He also played a key role on election night with the special events team. Ben has truly grown up in our Washington bureau, and we’re all excited for what’s ahead for him.

ABC News is a special place, filled with remarkable people. We are honored to work alongside them — and all of you.

Please join us in congratulating Jenn, John, Katherine and Ben on their well-earned promotions.

Almin, Seni, Rick and Averi

ABC News Media Relations
Jeannie Kedas | jeannie.kedas@abc.com
Van Scott | van.scott@abc.com

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