Paul Lee is president, ABC Entertainment Group, a position he has held since July 2010. In this role Lee has oversight of all creative and business operations for ABC Studios and Times Square Studios, as well as all development, programming, marketing and scheduling operations for ABC Entertainment. He reports to Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group.
During the 2010-11 season, ABC claimed TV's No. 1 comedy ("Modern Family") and the No. 1 drama ("Grey's Anatomy") in Adults 18-49, as well as the most-watched new show overall ("Body of Proof"). In addition, ABC had six of the season's Top 15 highest-rated series with Upscale Adults 18-49, more than any other network.
For the 2011-12 season, Mr. Lee shepherded in 13 new series, working with some of the industry's biggest names, including Tim Allen in "Last Man Standing," Darren Star ("Sex in the City") for "G.C.B.," Ashley Judd in "Missing," Steven Spielberg for "The River," "Lost" writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz for "Once Upon a Time" and Shonda Rhimes for "Scandal."
In December 2011, Mr. Lee was given oversight of the newly-formed Times Square Studios, an integrated current entertainment programming and development division that produces non-scripted lifestyle and health content for daytime and syndication.
Prior to becoming president of ABC Entertainment Group, Lee led ABC Family from 2004-2010, where he revitalized the cable channel with an ambitious slate of original and acquired programs. In conceiving the mission of the network, he launched a plan to target the young adult Millennial audience on multiple platforms with relatable programming like "Kyle XY," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," "Pretty Little Liars," "Greek," "Make It Or Break It" and "Huge." The network is also home to the biggest programming event on cable with "25 Days of Christmas." Under Lee, ABC Family had an amazing six+ years of consecutive growth.
ABC Family also made the most of new platforms to connect viewers with content. The industry recognized this push for creativity and innovation on this front by awarding ABC Family a 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Television, as well as an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media the following year.
Prior to joining ABC Family, Lee was chief executive officer and founder of BBC America, and was responsible for the development and launch of the company in March 1998, starting as general manager and then chief operating officer. During his tenure, the hit comedy series "The Office" (British version) garnered two Golden Globes. Other shows under his supervision included the BBC's "Changing Rooms," which formatted into TLC's signature show, "Trading Spaces," "What Not to Wear" and the "Graham Norton Show."
Before arriving stateside, Lee spent several years at the BBC, ultimately serving as channel editor for BBC Prime, the company's 24-hour entertainment channel.
Lee started his career as a reporter assigned to Belfast, Northern Ireland, at a particularly critical period in the conflict. Upon returning to London, he segued into entertainment, where he became a producer, director and showrunner, going on to earn a BAFTA and a BANFF Award for the BBC documentary series Arena for his portrait of Woody Guthrie.
In 1990 Lee branched out into drama, traveling to Moscow to direct and produce "Oblomov," starring George Wendt of "Cheers" fame. He also produced, directed and wrote TV movies. Before joining the BBC in 1984, Lee worked as an assistant production manager on novelas at the Brazilian national network Rede Globo in Rio de Janeiro.
Lee holds an MA in Modern Languages (Portuguese and Russian) from Oxford University in England.