Hayma Washington is the first African-American to hold the post in the academy's 70 years (Twitter Photo)
A veteran producer is the newly elected chief executive of the Television Academy.
The academy said on Thursday its board of governors elected Hayma Washington as chairman and CEO, the first African-American to hold the post in the academy's 70 years.
Washington, an award-winning producer, has been co-governor of the producers' branch of the academy.
A former Walt Disney Co. executive, he's worked on programs including sports, awards and music shows and won seven Emmys as an executive producer for "The Amazing Race." He produces and directs through his own company.
Washington's two-year tenure begins January 1. He succeeds outgoing chief executive Bruce Rosenblum, who hit a term-limits ceiling after five years in the job.