Nancy Dubuc to replace Shane Smith at Vice Media

Nancy Dubuc

Nancy Dubuc is leaving her post as president and CEO of A+E Networks and is set to replace Shane Smith as chief executive of Vice Media.

A+E’s chairman emeritus and former CEO, Abbe Raven, will return as acting chair while a replacement is found, with Dubuc (pictured right) leaving her post on April 16.

It appears Dubuc will take over from Smith at hipster brand Vice, whose corporate culture has been taken apart in the media over allegations of its working conditions for women. The firm also missed financial targets last year.

Dubuc has been at the forefront of women’s media advocacy, and has experience with the Vice brand – A+E operates the Viceland cable channel in the US along with Smith’s company, and she sits on its board. Furthermore, A+E also owns shares in Vice, as does its one of its parent companies, The Walt Disney Company.

Dubuc has not confirmed her new post, but included a reference to her “next adventure” in her exit statement.

“Anyone who knows me well knows I am an entrepreneur, creator, rebel and disruptor at heart,” she added. “I have a famous neon sign in my office that blares ‘Who dares wins’.

“After 20 years at A+E, the hardest thing will be to leave the people and company I love, but, as a creative executive and leader, and to stay true to my personal mantra, I need my next dare and my next challenge.”

Dubuc has been president and CEO of A+E since 2013. Under her tenure, History scored huge ratings with scripted miniseries Hatfields and McCoys and A&E continued to draw numbers through Duck Dynasty, which ended last year as the trend of ob-docs fades from view.