Cartoon Net Exec Davidson Dies

Jennifer Davidson, Cartoon Network’s senior VP of programming and scheduling,

died unexpectedly from a sudden illness early Saturday morning. The 38-year-old wife and mother of three was one of the first 15 employees hired by Turner Broadcasting around the time of Cartoon Network’s launched in 1992.

Davidson was promoted to senior VP this past September and has been responsible for overseeing the day-to-day scheduling and strategic positioning of all on-air content for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, as well as on-air promotion for Adult Swim. She previously served as VP of marketing, ad trade, consumer products trade and strategic operations for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, and was part of the team that launched Adult Swim as a separate entertainment service in September of 2001.

Davidson is survived by her husband, John Davidson, and children Mitchell (7), Oliver (5) and Harper (2), as well as her parents, two sisters, a brother and other extended family.

‘We have lost a shining star, not only at Cartoon Network, but within our industry,’ says Stuart Snyder, exec VP and chief operating officer for Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media group. ‘Our hearts and prayers go out to John, Mitchell, Oliver, Harper and Jen’s family and friends.’

Viewing services will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the

Sandy Springs Funeral Home in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m. at Buckhead Church in Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to one of three charitable organizations the Davidson’s have actively supported: FRAXA, the Fragile X Research Foundation (www.fraxa.org) the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (www.leukemia-lymphoma.org); and BrightPoint For Children (www.brightpointforchildren.org).