Lisa Gersh, a one-time president and COO of Oxygen, facilitating its sale to NBCU in 2007, and who was later instrumental in NBCU’s acquisition of the The Weather Channel, is joining NBC News managing the division’s business development.
In a memo to his staff, obtained by TVNewser, NBC News president Steve Capus writes, “In this new position, Lisa will continue the efforts to expand the reach and growth of NBC News worldwide, overseeing our business development organization and partnerships including The Weather Channel.”
Currently Gersh is NBCU’s President of Strategic Initiatives and Managing Director of The Weather Channel. Capus says she’ll “focus on identifying and coordinating new strategic growth opportunities for NBC News.” Gersh reports to Capus.
The press release, after the jump…
LISA GERSH, PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE WEATHER CHANNEL, TO FOCUS ON NBC NEWS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
New York, NY – Lisa Gersh, NBC Universal’s President of Strategic Initiatives and Managing Director of The Weather Channel, is joining the management team of NBC News. The announcement made today by Steve Capus, President of NBC News, is effective immediately. Gersh’s role is a new position within the News division and further signals NBC News’ commitment to expanding and growing its global reach while capitalizing on the strength of its core assets. Gersh will oversee the news division’s business development organization and joint venture partnerships including The Weather Channel. She will to report directly to Capus.
“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Lisa during the acquisition of The Weather Channel and have been consistently impressed by her hard work, dedication and talents. She’s uniquely situated to join our news management team which is already the best in the business, as we continue to grow and solidify our leadership positions,” said Capus.
Gersh joined NBCU in November of 2007 after the company acquired Oxygen Media, a media company which she co-founded with Geraldine Laybourne and served as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Since joining NBCU, Gersh was instrumental in the multi-billion dollar acquisition of The Weather Channel Companies and served as interim CEO during its transition.
As Oxygen’s President and COO, Gersh led the day-to-day operations of the company and served as the principal engineer of Oxygen’s foundation partnerships with Carsey-Werner LLC and Harpo Productions, Inc. She was also responsible for the company’s financing and major MSO agreements and in 2004 led Oxygen to its first year of positive cash flow. Gersh was principally responsible for the sale of Oxygen to NBCU.
Prior to joining Oxygen, Gersh had more than 15 years of experience in creating strong corporate partnerships and negotiating financing at the New York law firm Friedman Kaplan & Seiler LLP, which she co-founded and served as a partner from 1986 to 1998. Gersh began her career as an attorney with the firm Debevoise & Plimpton. Admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 1984, Gersh earned her J.D. from Rutgers Law School. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Political Science and economics from the State University of New York Binghamton.