Michael Lombardo to exit as HBO Programming president

HBO Programming President Michael Lombardo is leaving the company after more than three decades, the latest executive shake-up at the pioneering cable television network.

The decision to resign was made by Lombardo, said a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment. His final day is not known.

An HBO spokesperson declined to comment.

A replacement has not been named. Lombardo is expected to segue to a production deal with HBO.

During his tenure, Lombardo has overseen the launches of the popular series “True Blood,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Game of Thrones” and “Veep.” The latter two won for both drama and comedy series at last year’s Emmys.

But his departure comes as HBO has faced some programming struggles in the past year or so.

Its blockbuster series “Game of Thrones” continues to be a mega-hit. But as the fantasy epic winds down, the network’s search for a strong slate of dramas has faced some challenges.

HBO’s expensive rock drama “Vinyl,” executive produced by Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger, fared poorly. Other big-budget projects in development also have faced troubles. The TV adaptation of Michael Crichton’s futuristic “Westworld” halted production in December and still has an undetermined air date.

Returning drama “The Leftovers,” meanwhile, will end after its upcoming third season. And despite a strong debut, “True Detective” was met with criticism in its second season. There’s still no official word on a possible third season.

The TV industry has changed dramatically during Lombardo’s tenure. HBO remains a top destination for high-caliber projects, but faces more competition than ever. Rivals such as Netflix, Amazon, Showtime, AMC and FX have grabbed a larger share of business, attracting talent with high budgets and creative freedom.

HBO’s recent mixed track record fueled an executive shake-up in January, with the exit of drama boss Michael Ellenberg. Comedy programming chief Casey Bloys was promoted to oversee both comedy and drama. Some have speculated Bloys may replace Lombardo.

A lawyer by trade, Lombardo joined the network in 1983 as part of the legal department in New York. Three years later, he moved to Los Angeles in his new role as vice president of business affairs, production and programming operations — a position he held until 2003. He was tapped as programming president in 2007, replacing Chris Albrecht, who now heads Starz.

His responsibilities included overseeing programming for HBO and Cinemax as well as HBO Films, HBO Sports and HBO Documentaries and Family.

Lombardo’s departure was first reported by Variety.

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UPDATES:

3:38 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with additional information.

This article was originally published at 2:59 p.m.