Bravo Media, a unit of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, has promoted Jerry Leo to executive vice president, program strategy, Lifestyle Networks & Production, adding responsibility for E! Entertainment and Esquire Network to his current duties at Bravo and Oxygen.
Leo will oversee strategic planning and programming across all four networks, working closely with research, marketing and creative to set series goals. Additionally, he will will continue to supervise Bravo’s production team from the creative side to operations and management, the company said.
During his tenure at Bravo, which he joined in 2005 as vice president, strategic program planning & scheduling, it has become a Top 10 network in the adults 18-49 and 25-54 demos. Most recently Leo oversaw Bravo's expansion into scripted series with one-hour drama Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce and the upcoming half-hour comedy Odd Mom Out. He also spearheaded the strategic planning and production of reality series Million Dollar Listing franchise, Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck and Shahs of Sunset, as well as the Andy Cohen late-night talker Watch What Happens Live.
Leo added responsibility for strategic planning at Oxygen in 2013, when he led the scheduling strategy behind the network’s rebrandto target young, multicultural women.
Prior to joining Bravo Media, Leo was with MTV Networks, most recently as vice president, program planning for VH1, where he managed the program strategy for Behind the Music, Divas Live, Storytellers, Pop Up Video and popular franchises such as the “100 Greatest,” “I Love the 80s” and “Celebreality.”
Leo, based in New York, will continue to report to Frances Berwick, president, lifestyle networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, on matters pertaining to Bravo and Oxygen, and now will also report to Adam Stotsky, general manager of E! and president of Esquire Network.
“Jerry is a strong leader with extensive industry knowledge, keen programming instincts and his finger on the competitive pulse,” Berwick said. “His expanded role over all four brands enables us to align an overarching programming strategy and create impactful growth across all platforms."
