NEW YORK: Veronica Pollard has quit ABC after more than 17 years with the network broadcast operation.
Pollard resigned her ABC post as vice president public relations, to join Toyota Motor Corporate Services in New York.
She becomes vice president, external affairs for the car company, giving her wider responsibilities than she held at ABC.
Her new brief includes media and investor relations, philanthropy, corporate advertising, direct marketing and direct response activities.
Pollard oversaw the cable interests at ABC and managed international relations, multimedia and publishing.
Her colleagues in the communications department at ABC will now share Pollard's duties. Her position is not expected to be filled directly.
Pollard joined the company in 1980 and left for a brief period in '86 to move to Japan. She later joined Japanese company Cosmo PR, as manager of international affairs, before returning to ABC in '88.
Pollard was also a journalist at the San Francisco Chronicle and was assistant director of public affairs for Newsweek.
ABC TV president Patricia Fili-Krushel is reported to be in serious discussion with the heads of the other three networks about them working more closely together to promote free television. They are trying to combat the fierce cable-specific PR machine.
However, Dana McClintock, CBS' director of communications, said, 'There is no conspiracy among corporate communications departments. This is not a PR issue but a business issue.'.
