HBO names Lombardo replacement

HBO has promoted an existing exec to replace veteran programming president Michael Lombardo, who is leaving the premium US cablenet.

Casey Bloys

Casey Bloys, who became president of HBO series, late night and specials earlier this year, will take Lombardo’s role, overseeing all programming from HBO and Cinemax.

Bloys, who was tipped to take the job when news of Lombardo’s departure broke, joined HBO in 2004 and has worked on the development and production of comedy and drama series including Veep, Ballers and Girls.

HBO chairman Richard Plepler said Bloys “has the deepest respect and admiration of our colleagues inside the company as well as throughout the creative community.”

Lombardo had been in the role for nine years and worked on shows including Game of Thrones, True Blood and Silicon Valley.

Michael Lombardo

He took over from former CEO Chris Albrecht in 2007 and also oversaw hits like Girls, Boardwalk Empire and Veep, although more recent series such as The Brink and Vinyl have met less success.

Production on recent drama Westworld was halted earlier this year, while other projects including Lewis & Clark and Utopia were paused in 2015.

Lombardo’s exit follows that of fellow senior exec Michael Ellenberg, exec VP of drama development, who departed earlier this year.

Lombardo had been at HBO for 33 years and is now set for a job in production with the network.