Channing Dungey has been promoted to the key role of senior vice president, drama development for ABC Studios, it was announced today by the president of the studio, Mark Pedowitz.

A four-year veteran of the studio's drama team, Dungey has shepherded a number of successful series during her tenure, including Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Reaper, Army Wives and Private Practice. She replaces Morgan Wandell, who has moved over to run development for Greg Berlanti Productions.

Dungey's expanded role gives her oversight of the drama development team whose efforts have launched four seasons of hit drama programming including Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty, "Army Wives," "Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, Reaper and Eli Stone.

Dungey's career at the studio has involved the acquisition and development of potential series, shepherding the concepts from pitch through pilot. She works closely with producers Mark Gordon, Shonda Rhimes, David Hoberman, Matt Gross and Warren Littlefield on their development deals with the studio. While continuing to oversee creative on all seasons of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, she worked on development of three pilots in production and the redesign of the UK series Life on Mars, which will air on ABC in the fall.