Skydance Sports Chief David Berson Sets Exec Roster, With New Roles For Jeff Gerttula, Craig Barry & More

David Berson, the CBS Sports veteran who is now chairman of Skydance‘s Global Sports Group, has set his leadership team and named veteran execs Jeff Gerttula and Craig Berry to key roles.

The appointments are the latest to come down from senior leadership in an effort to organize and restructure Skydance, which was created by this month’s $110 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. The new entity has platforms across broadcast TV, streaming, cable and digital. Berson was elevated to the top role the week the merger closed, with TNT Sports chief Luis Silberwasser announcing his departure.

By and large, the new roster confirms to the usual practice with mergers, wherein executives from the company doing the acquiring (CBS parent Paramount, in this case) prevail over the other side. One notable exception is Berry, who worked at the TNT and Turner sports division for nearly four decades. As Skydance Global Sports Group‘s EVP and Chief Content Officer, Perry will lead all production across remote setups and live events, along with talent, features and editorial.

Gerttula, a veteran CBS Sports digital exec, will oversee digital, international, strategy and business development for sports. “As we are still assessing the international structure and operating model, Jeff will be the point person with the international sports teams,” Berson noted.

Sports Business Journal had the first report on the appointments, which have now been confirmed by Deadline.

Notable exits as part of the reorg include those of TNT Sports communications and talent chief Nate Smeltz; CBS production EVP Harold Bryant; TNT Sports CFO Sophia Constantinides; TNT Sports Ventures president Patrick Crumb; TNT Sports HR SVP Donald Knight; and TNT SVP of strategic partnerships Raphael Poplock.

In the memo, Berson saluted the departing execs’ “leadership, partnership and immeasurable contributions, calling them “excellent executives whom I greatly admire and respect.”

Here are the names, titles and job descriptions provided by Berson:

Jeff Gerttula – Executive Vice President and Managing Director. In this new role, Jeff will oversee digital, international, strategy and business development for sports. As we are still assessing the international structure and operating model, Jeff will be the point person with the international sports teams. Bennett Spector will join Jeff’s team and continue to oversee Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. Yang Adija will also join Jeff’s team, with a focus on digital strategy and operations.

Craig Barry – Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer. Craig will be responsible for all production, including remote and live event production, studio production, on-air talent, features, creative content, graphics and editorial.

Patty Power – Executive Vice President, Operations and Engineering. Patty will manage day-to-day operations and engineering, including remote technical operations, production management, engineering, post-production and media operations, and on-air operations.

Dan Weinberg – Executive Vice President, Programming. Dan will lead our programming group, responsible for programming strategy, rights acquisitions, program development, scheduling, and relationship management with our league partners.

Chris Carter – Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. Chris will oversee all financial efforts.

Kelly Dunne – Executive Vice President, Marketing. Kelly will oversee the sports marketing group.
Jen Sabatelle – Executive Vice President, Communications. Jen will oversee all communications functions, including strategy; media relations; internal, external and corporate communications; and manage media appearances for executives and on-air talent.

Bryn Berglund – Senior Vice President, Human Resources. Bryn will manage human resources for the sports organization.

Doug Bernstein – Senior Vice President, Insights and Audience Strategy. Doug will oversee all audience research efforts for sports.

Kevin Glidewell – Senior Vice President, Legal. Kevin will lead the sports legal team.
Deanna O’Toole – Senior Vice President, Business Affairs. Deanna will lead contract negotiations for talent and production personnel, footage, clearances, and other rights-related deals.