Teni Melidonian, AMPAS’ chief Oscars officer and one of CEO Bill Kramer’s most senior lieutenants, is leaving her full-time role at the organization as part of a restructuring Kramer announced in an email to staff Monday. The Ankler reviewed the email. Her departure has not been previously reported. “As part of this transition, Teni Melidonian will be leaving her full-time role with the Academy and will provide guidance as a consultant for the next year,” Kramer wrote in the email. The Academy declined to comment. The reorganization effectively unwinds the standalone Oscars operation built around Melidonian over the past four years. Awards production, special events and talent relations are now the purview of Jennifer Davidson, the Academy’s marketing and communications chief. Membership chief Meredith Shea will oversee awards ticketing and member screenings. Kramer framed the shakeup around several upcoming milestones. “As we plan for the Academy’s 100th year as an organization, our 100th Oscars ceremony and our transition to YouTube and a new Oscars venue, it is critical that we align our teams in a way that supports both our immediate priorities and our long-term vision,” he wrote, saying the new structure would “strengthen collaboration” and leave the Academy “well positioned for a strong and sustainable future.” Melidonian is a two-decade Academy veteran who joined as a publicist in 2005, rose to lead communications and publicity, and took charge of the newly created Oscars strategy division as an EVP in 2022. In January 2024, Kramer named her chief Oscars officer, a new post reporting directly to him and overseeing strategy, talent relations, special events and production for all awards programs. At the time, Kramer called her “creative and forward-thinking” and credited her with playing “a critical role” in the prior year’s show. Notably, that role made Melidonian the Academy’s lead liaison to Disney/ABC — the broadcast relationship that is to wind down following the 100th Oscars in 2028. In December the Academy announced a deal handing YouTube exclusive global rights to the Oscars beginning with the 101st ceremony in 2029 and running through 2033. The ceremony is to stream free worldwide on YouTube and be available to YouTube TV subscribers in the U.S. Financial terms of the YouTube pact were not disclosed, but the streaming giant is reportedly paying less than the roughly $100 million a year Disney pays under its current contract. The lower fee may be offset by YouTube’s global reach and other non-cash sweeteners including the possibility that the streaming platform could carry Academy programming other than the Oscars. |
