• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, December 3, 2010

Ben Sherwood, who worked at NBC "Nightly News" before rejoining ABC in 2004, has been named president of ABC News, replacing David Westin. He had headed production of "Good Morning America" at ABC and has more than 20+ years at the network.

His duties include oversight of all editorial and digital operations for ABC News as well as ABCNews.com and ABC News Radio. At present, ABC News is trailing its rivals, averaging 7.3 million viewers for its evening telecast in the TV season, per Nielsen. NBC averages 8.4 million and CBS 5.7 million.

Disney executive Anne Sweeney, who oversees ABC, stated that Sherwood's "proven success in the news business, along with his entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and keen intellect" contributed to the decision to give him the top post.

He joined ABC News in 1989 as an investigative associate producer and producer for "PrimeTime Live."

In 1997, he moved to NBC and held a number of roles with "Nightly News with Tom Brokaw," but by 2004, he was back at ABC News as executive producer of "GMA."

Sherwood is also a noted writer with essays published in a variety of publications, and the author of two novels.

In February, ABC restructured its news workforce, leaning more on freelancers and requiring staffers to shoot and edit more of their own material.