CBS has named Jennifer Sabatelle vice president, communications for CBS Sports and Gerard Caraccioli executive director, communications for CBS Sports, according to a Monday announcement from Gil Schwartz, executive vice president, corporate communications, CBS Corporation, and Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports.
Both promotions are effective immediately and follows the departure of longtime CBS Sports communications head LeslieAnne Wade, who last month formed her own media strategy and public relations company that includes CBS as a client.
Sabatelle most recently served as director, communications for CBS Sports, a position she has held since 2007. Caraccioli has been promoted from director, communications for the network, a position he has held since 2006.
"I've had the pleasure of working with Jen and Jerry for years and I can't think of two better ambassadors for the CBS Sports brand," said Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports in announcing the promotions. "They've done an excellent job to help shape our perception with the media and share our success story, which has helped distinguish us as the industry leader. Jen and Jerry both bring to CBS Sports an intuitive understanding of our business, and their performance has earned the respect of everyone within the organization. I know they will represent CBS Sports with distinction and pride."
Noted Gil Schwartz, executive vice president, corporate communications at CBS Corp.: "Jen is a terrific communications executive, whose hard work and enthusiasm has greatly distinguished her at CBS and with the sports media at large. In her 10 years with the company, she has earned the trust and admiration of everyone she's worked with, and we're very pleased to promote her to this new role. In addition to CBS Sports, Jen will work in tandem with all of the sports properties under the CBS umbrella, including CBS College Sports, CBS Interactive and Showtime Sports, in continuing to promote the brands, personalities and events that have made us the industry leader."
"At the same time, we're very pleased to promote Jerry Caraccioli to executive director of the department," Schwartz continued. "You couldn't ask for a more dedicated, knowledgeable and experienced executive than Jerry, whose work on the NFL has helped set the standard in how we support professional football on network television. We're privileged to have such a strong frontline in Jen, Jerry and Robin Brendle leading our communications efforts at CBS Sports, and Sean and I both look forward to their contributions and counsel in this regard."
