It would be an understatement to say that today’s news from CBS isn’t a bit of a shocker.
Nina Tassler has announced that she is stepping down from her position as Chairman of CBS Entertainment at the end of this year.
She will move into an advisory role at CBS through to 2017 (when her contract is up).
At the same time, Glenn Geller, who currently oversees Current Programming for both CBS Entertainment and CBS Television Studios, has been named President, CBS Entertainment, and will head the Network’s entertainment programming and creative affairs.
In his new position, Geller will lead entertainment programming for primetime, daytime and late night, as well as program development in all genres, including comedy, drama, reality, specials and long-form.
The announcement of this transition was made today by Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation, to whom Geller will now report. Moonves said Geller will assume his full duties as President of the Division effective immediately. During the transition, he will work closely with Tassler, who will remain Chairman until the end of 2015.
“Nina and I have been colleagues and friends for 25 years,” said Moonves. “It is one of the proudest partnerships of my professional life. We’ve enjoyed amazing success together, both here and at Warner Bros., and it’s been a privilege to watch her talents and accomplishments grow. Nina is a creative executive with the instincts of an artist, so it came as no surprise that she would eventually want to express those talents beyond television. All of us here are grateful and proud of CBS’s success with Nina leading our entertainment programming, and we will be the biggest fans for all her future endeavors.”
“CBS is a special place,” said Tassler. “For the past 18 years, I’ve been blessed to be part of an amazing team that has lifted this Network to an enviable run of success. It all starts at the top with Leslie, my boss, mentor and friend for two and a half decades, and a leader who inspires excellence in every part of the creative and business process. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Leslie, my colleagues at CBS and all the actors, producers and writers who were part of this incredible journey. I will always love this place, yet it is time for my next chapter, and I’m thrilled that I can pursue my other creative interests while still being part of the Company. I pass the baton to Glenn with great confidence and pride. He is an outstanding leader with great respect for the artistic process and a clear vision for programming success.”
Under Tassler’s leadership, CBS has been America’s #1 network for 12 of the past 13 years. During that time, she has programmed the Network with a broad range of popular and critical hits, including The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, Blue Bloods, Elementary, Mom, Undercover Boss, Madam Secretary and Scorpion, among others.
**Photo courtesy of Cliff Lipson/CBS**