Ayo Davis Named Head of Talent & Casting for ABC

Ayo Davis has been named the head of Talent and Casting for ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios overseeing both network and studio casting teams, effective immediately. Davis will continue reporting to ABC Entertainment president, Channing Dungey, and executive vice president of ABC Studios, Patrick Moran, in her new role. Davis has been the interim head of casting for both ABC network and ABC Studios.

"Ayo has done an amazing job identifying and bringing new talent into the fold for both the studio and network," said Channing Dungey, ABC Entertainment president. "Her keen eye and track record make her perfect for this position."
"Ayo's vision and leadership abilities have proven invaluable to ABC," added Patrick Moran, Executive Vice President of ABC Studios.
Ayo Davis was named senior vice president, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment Group, in November 2015. In this role she oversaw all scripted primetime casting for the ABC Television Network, which includes the multi-award-winning hit series "Modern Family," "How to Get Away with Murder," "Scandal," "American Crime," "black-ish" and "Once Upon a Time." Previously she served as vice president, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment Group.

Additionally, Ms. Davis helped to lead the implementation and launch of the ABC Discovers Initiative, which includes several programs aimed at finding and nurturing up-and-coming talent from around the world. The programs under the ABC Discovers umbrella include the annual New York and Los Angeles Talent Showcases, currently in its 14th year; the Digital Talent Competition, the first ever national digital talent competition by a major television network; Actor Audition Workshop Week, a bi-coastal event where actors are invited from diverse organizations to participate in an on-camera audition workshop to learn about the casting process, as well as the Latino/Hispanic Outreach, the Asian/Pacific Islander Outreach and the Global Talent Outreach.

Ms. Davis joined ABC Casting 13 years ago, overseeing such pilots as the Emmy Award-winning series "Lost," "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy."

Ms. Davis supports Links Incorporated, an organization based in Orange County that provides community service and mentors youths. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Dillard University.

In her first move as Head of Talent and Casting, Ms. Davis has recruited Jonathan Bluman to join the ABC Talent and Casting team as vice president. He will report directly to Ayo Davis. Mr. Bluman comes from WME where he represented a variety of actors in television and film, including Mahershala Ali, Benjamin Bratt, Omar Epps, Cheryl Hines, Adrianne Palicki, Melissa Rauch and Maya Rudolph.

"Jonathan's reputation for finding and developing talent precedes him. We're excited for him to join our team and bring his exceptional skill set to ABC," said Ms. Davis.

Mr. Bluman joined Endeavor in 2005 and transitioned to WME in 2009 following the agency's merger with the William Morris Agency. Prior to that, he was a talent agent at Paradigm Agency from 1994 to 2004.

Originally from Far Rockaway and Bayside, Queens, Mr. Bluman is actively involved with Art of Elysium and is a dedicated youth basketball and soccer coach. He is a graduate of Queens College with a B.A. in drama and theatre.

Photo credits: ABC/ Warren Skalski; Paul Smith*

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