Jerry Leo is getting a promotion.
He has been named executive vice president of program strategy for Lifestyle Networks and production for Bravo Media, it was announced Thursday by NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment's Lifestyle Networks president Frances Berwick.
In his expanded role, Leo will oversee E! Entertainment and Esquire Network in addition to his current duties at Bravo and Oxygen Media, which will include strategic planning and programming across all four networks. Leo will work closely with research, marketing and creative to set series goals, meanwhile continuing to supervise Bravo’s production team. Based in New York, he'll continue to report to Berwick on Bravo and Oxygen, and now E! Entertainment general manager and Esquire president Adam Stotsky as well.
“Jerry is a strong leader with extensive industry knowledge, keen programming instincts and his finger on the competitive pulse,” said Berwick. “His expanded role over all four brands enables us to align an overarching programming strategy and create impactful growth across all platforms."
Leo joined Bravo in 2005 as vice president of strategic program planning and scheduling, where he scheduled tentpole series like the Top Chef franchise, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Project Runway and The Real Housewives franchise. He increased Bravo’s programming slate by more than 250 percent, and expanded originals from two nights a week to five.
He also spearheaded other Bravo shows, including the Million Dollar Listing franchise, Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck, Watch What Happens Live and Shahs of Sunset, in addition to the network’s pop culture and entertainment trend tracking. In 2013, Leo added Oxygen to his purview, where he led the scheduling strategy behind the network’s rebrand targeting young, multicultural women, and increased the network's programming slate with 20 new original series.
More recently, Leo led Bravo's foray into the scripted space with the network’s first drama Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, recently renewed for a second season. Soon, the network will add another scripted series to its increasingly diversified slate, half-hour comedy Odd Mom Out.
