Nina Tassler Stepping Down as CBS Entertainment Chairman

LOS ANGELES: Nina Tassler is planning to step down from her current role as chairman of CBS Entertainment at the end of the year, with Glenn Geller assuming the role of president.

Tassler will continue with the company in an advisory role through at least 2017. She joined CBS in August 1997 as VP of drama for CBS Productions, before moving to the network as senior VP of drama development in 1998, then becoming president of entertainment in 2004.

“Nina and I have been colleagues and friends for 25 years,” said Leslie Moonves, the president and CEO of CBS Corporation. “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.”

Geller, who currently oversees current programming for both CBS Entertainment and CBS Television Studios, has been named president of CBS Entertainment, and will head the network’s entertainment programming and creative affairs. In his new position, Geller will lead entertainment programming for prime time, daytime and late night, as well as program development in all genres, including comedy, drama, reality, specials and long-form. He will report to Moonves. Moonves said Geller will assume his full duties as president of the division immediately. During the transition, he will work closely with Tassler, who will remain chairman until the end of 2015.       

“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.”

Moonves added: “Glenn Geller is an accomplished programming executive who has been a major part of CBS’s success since 2001. When Nina told me her plans, we both knew we had an obvious successor in our own ranks. Glenn brings outstanding skills to all parts of the creative and production process, and he has led large programming teams both at the network and studio that oversee our biggest franchises and hit programs. He’s worked under the best with Nina and David Stapf, and is very ready to assume this larger role.”