ABC News is mourning the loss of "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" executive producer following his unexpected death on Friday.
ABC anchor Rachel Scott told "World News Tonight" on Saturday that ABC was "shocked and hurt" by Dax Tejera's death. Tejera was 37 and died of a heart attack.
In a note to employees about her death, ABC President Kim Godwin said Tejera's energy, passion and love for show business "reflected every Sunday morning." Godwin said Tejera is survived by his wife, Veronica, and two daughters, and the company's thoughts are with them and his family.
"Dax will be greatly missed by all of us here at ABC News," Scott said.
Tejera was named executive producer of This Week last December, working on the show just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Taking on this role at a very uncertain time, his vision has helped 'This Week' reach new heights. The program is now number one in the 25-54 category for the first time in six years," Godwin said in a note. service.. announcing the hiring of Tejera at the time.
He joined ABC News as a senior producer in the Washington bureau in 2017 and produced national shows and specials after former President Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tejera previously worked as a producer at MSNBC and as a writer and researcher at NBC News.
Members of various media outlets who knew him posted eulogies for Tejera, saying he will be missed.
Maggie Haberman of The New York Times tweeted that Tejera was a "charming" person, while NPR's David Folkenflik said he found Tejera "sharp, thoughtful, irrepressible and funny".
CNN executive producer Javi Morgado tweeted that he was "heartbroken" to learn of his friend Tejera's death. He said he first met Tejera 15 years ago when they were working on the show "Sot", and since then he has achieved a lot.
MSNBC's Jose Diaz-Balart tweeted that he had the opportunity to meet and work with Tejera.
“Dax was a force of enthusiasm, intelligence and passion. He was a real civil servant," he said.
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