The combination of CBS and TNT Sports will result in new roles for some prominent executives, and layoffs for others.
Skydance chairman/global sports group David Berson announced the new leadership team for the company’s combined sports division on Thursday, headlined by longtime TNT Sports executive Craig Barry being named EVP/chief content officer with oversight of editorial, creative content and studio/live event production. Barry has worked at Turner Sports for more than three decades, most recently in the same role where he oversaw content on TBS, TNT and truTV.
CBS head of digital Jeff Gerttula will oversee digital and international efforts for the sports division, working with Bleacher Report GM Bennett Spector, who will continue to have oversight of Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. TNT Sports’ Yang Adija is also going to be part of Gerttula’s team at Skydance focusing on both operations and digital strategy.
Some prominent executives at both CBS and TNT Sports will not be retained. Longtime TNT Sports communications executive Nate Smeltz will be leaving the company before year’s end, according to Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal. Prior to his time with TNT Sports, Smeltz worked at ESPN in its communications department.
Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported additional TNT Sports executives who are leaving the company, including CFO Sophia Constantinides, SVP/strategic partnerships Raphael Poplock, HR SVP Donald Knight and TNT Sports Ventures president Patrick Crumb. Glasspiegel also reported that CBS Sports EP/EVP Harold Bryant, who has worked with the company since 1997, is departing the company. Previously, TNT Sports chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser exited his role.
“I am grateful for their leadership, partnership and immeasurable contributions over the years,” Berson wrote in a memo obtained by Front Office Sports. “They are all excellent executives whom I greatly admire and respect, and I thank them for everything they have given to CBS Sports and TNT Sports.”
CBS Sports EVP/programming Dan Weinberg will maintain oversight of programming for the sports division in an EVP role. Weinberg has been working for CBS Sports since 2011 after previous stints with Major League Baseball and ESPN. His role involves strategy, scheduling, procuring rights and developing programs.
Kelly Dunne will continue overseeing marketing, and Chris Carter remains the chief financial officer, both of whom were working for CBS Sports. Jen Sabatelle, who oversaw communications for CBS Sports, will be the EVP/communications for the sports division. Other executives who will be part of the combined sports division include Paramount’s Bryn Berglund (SVP/human resources), WBD’s Doug Bernstein (SVP/insights and audience strategy), WBD’s Kevin Glidewell (SVP/legal) and CBS Sports’ Deanna O’Toole (SVP/business affairs).
