Succession minus the drama

It might have been a scene straight out of the gripping HBO series Succession because it was about the retirement of a media empire’s big boss and the announcement of his successor. But the comparison ended there; there was neither a cunning plot to steal the throne or a dark denouement as what happened to the Roy family in the television series.

Indeed, for this real life media empire GMA Network, it’s all’s well that ends well when its CEO Felipe L. Gozon or FLG announced his retirement on Saturday night.

“The GMA Board of Directors has approved my retirement as Chief Executive Officer effective Dec. 31, 2023. But I will continue as Chairman/Adviser and Chairman of the Programming Committee,” FLG said during the celebration of his 84th birthday at the glittering Isla Ballroom of Edsa Shangri-La.

Of course, the next big news was revealing his successor, GMA president and COO Gilberto “Jimmy” Duavit, Jr. who will be CEO effective Jan. 1, 2024.

No surprise there indeed as Duavit is the eldest son of Gilberto Duavit Sr., co-founder of GMA. The younger Duavit is also FLG’s second in command as president and COO of the Network since 2000. As I said, there was no drama, no violent reaction, no unexpected succession plot twist.

It was indeed a star-studded night filled with glitz and fun and lots of love.

There were celebrities from showbiz, business and politics with First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and tycoon Tessie Sy-Coson among the esteemed guests.

Senators were present, too. I spotted Sen. Chiz Escudero with his celebrity wife, Heart Evanglista; and Senators Sonny Angara and Mark Villar. From the business chambers, there’s George Barcelon and Sergio Ortiz-Luis and Philippine Airlines president Capt. Stanley Ng.

It was also interesting to see top honchos from the rival network, ABS-CBN. I met president and CEO Carlo Katigbak that night for the first time but of course as a journalist, I follow the network’s travails closely. I was especially proud to stand together with my colleagues from ABS-CBN when the network was under attack by the Duterte administration.

That night, I told him that