AMC formally announced this morning that Scott Gimple will head The Walking Dead following the sudden departure of Glen Mazzara in December.

The press release includes quotes from The Walking Dead’s current management, who comments on the addition of Gimple. Said comic creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman, “Scott has been an essential part of this show since he came aboard at the very beginning of season two. He’s contributed to guiding this show in a substantial way that has resulted in a lot of the key scenes and storylines fans have dubbed signature moments of ‘The Walking Dead.’ I am thrilled to begin work on a brand new season of ‘The Walking Dead’ with Scott at the helm, and I truly believe we could be embarking on what will be the best season of this show yet.”

Added Gimple, “I’m thrilled to continue the tradition of the spectacular, cinematic, horrifying, exciting and emotional storytelling of ‘The Walking Dead.’ I’m a huge fan of the comics, and started with the show on the other side of the set, as an avid viewer. Over the past two years, it has been an incredible privilege making such great television with the best cast and crew I’ve ever worked with – I can’t wait to make some more.”

AMC touts Gimple’s experience with the show by noting that he’s written two key episodes: Episode 3×06 (“Hounded”) and last season’s mid-season finale (2×07 “Pretty Much Dead Already”), which depicted Sophia in the barn and being shot.

We also learned today that production on season 4 will begin May 6 in Atlanta, where all seasons of the show have been shot thus far.

Mazarra decided to depart from The Walking Dead at the end of 2012 following “a difference of opinion about where the show should go moving forward.” The show has now had three showrunners in the course of four seasons.