The CW lands Roku alum Ashley Hovey to lead digital expansion

Ashley Hovey

The CW has hired Roku’s Ashley Hovey as its first chief digital officer.

Hovey will lead strategy and day-to-day operations across the US broadcast network’s digital and streaming operations, including the CW app.

She reports into The CW’s president, Dennis Miller, and becomes the latest addition for the broadcaster, following its acquisition by Nexstar Media Group in October. Last month, former NBCUniversal exec Heather Olander joined to to lead unscripted programming.

Hovey was most recently senior director of AVOD at The Roku Channel, working across on-demand content and FAST.

Miller said: “Ashley is a trailblazer who knows what it takes to build a successful entertainment brand from the ground up and we look forward to having her play a vital role in helping us expand and monetise The CW Network’s digital footprint.”

Hovey added: “|The CW has an amazing audience and history, and I look forward to bringing my experience of building one of the largest ad-supported streaming businesses to the network. Together with the great team Dennis has put in place, I cannot wait to grow the network to new heights.”

Nexstar has previously shared its plans to populate The CW with “broader and cheaper programming”, signalling a push into more unscripted programming.