Wonya Lucas, the leader instrumental in promoting diversity at the Hallmark Channel during her tenure as CEO, will resign from her position by the end of this year.
In an announcement made on Tuesday, Aug. 8, Hallmark stated that Mike Perry, the CEO of Hallmark Companies, will collaborate with Lucas and the Hallmark Media team to steer the platform during her transition period.
"I am honored to have led this company and am tremendously proud of the progress we've made by creating an evolved entertainment experience that inspires meaningful, emotionally connected moments for our audiences," Lucas said. "My passion for the Hallmark brand has grown in deeply rewarding ways and will remain paramount as I continue to help guide Hallmark Media's future in a more strategically focused capacity."
Lucas will maintain her position on the board of directors for Hallmark Media.
In 2020, Lucas joined Hallmark from TV One, assuming the role of president and CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards Inc, succeeding Bill Abbott. Her appointment followed a contentious holiday season in which Hallmark initially pulled a commercial featuring a same-sex couple, only to later reverse its decision and apologize.
Over the course of her three-year tenure, Lucas, who is the daughter of the first Black General Manager in Major League Baseball (for the Atlanta Braves) and the niece of the esteemed late Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, led a transformation at Hallmark. This transformation involved introducing more diverse and inclusive storylines, characters, and programming to better align with progressive values. She also made changes within Hallmark's executive leadership and established partnerships with platforms such as Peacock, YouTube, Hulu, and other free ad-supported services.
"Wonya is a multi-faceted industry veteran, passionate brand builder, and consummate strategic leader," said Perry. "I'm grateful for the important work she has done to bring the expansive foundation of the iconic Hallmark brand to life and am fortunate that her insights will continue to positively impact the future of the business."
