ABC has promoted casting executive John Villacorta to senior vice president of talent and casting, the network announced Thursday.
He steps in for Ayo Davis, who was promoted to executive vice president last year, adding Disney+ to her area of oversight. In the role, Villacorta will manage the casting process for ABC and provide casting strategy and services to the Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment, working closely with the Disney+ team across all scripted and unscripted content. He will report to Davis.
“For 15 years, John has been an integral part of our casting team, investing in the process and the people in order to attract and maintain strong relationships with key talent throughout the industry,” Davis said in a statement. “I’m proud to promote John to a position for which he has worked tirelessly and so richly deserves. His professionalism and dedication will continue to attract exemplary talent as we cast for exciting and compelling titles across the ABC brand and Disney+.”
Villacorta first joined ABC Entertainment in 2004 as a casting assistant and has since overseen numerous shows including the limited series “American Crime” from John Ridley; the miniseries “When We Rise” from Dustin Lance Black and Gus Van Sant; “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Pushing Daisies” and the Emmy ® Award-winning “How to Get Away with Murder.”
He has also been instrumental in creating the inclusive-minded casting initiative ABC Discovers: Workshop Week, and serves as the executive mentor for the Casting pod in the newly created Walt Disney Television Executive Incubator Program.
Prior to joining ABC, he began his career in casting working alongside renowned casting director Mary Jo Slater on television series such as “Undressed,” “Line of Fire,” “Threat Matrix,” “Frankenstein” and “The Last Ride.” He is a graduate of the USC School of Theatre.