Logo fills its executive suite

Viacom has unveiled the management team operating the new gay-themed cable channel Logo. Lisa Sherman has been named senior vice president and general manager of Logo. New to the cable business, she comes from the marketing world, having been a senior executive at Verizon Communications for 17 years and, more recently, a senior vice president at New York advertising agency Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopoulos. "Lisa is a tremendously creative executive whose management and marketing background gives her a strategic understanding of how best to connect with our audience," said Brian Graden, out president of entertainment at MTV Networks Music Group and president of Logo. "I can't think of a better choice to help build and lead Logo toward success." In addition, Graden named three other executives to management positions at Logo. Eileen Opatut was installed as senior vice president for original programming. The former programming chief at Food Network, Opatut has been working on the channel while still in development. Dave Mace joins Logo as vice president for original programming after a stint as senior vice president for television production and development at Storyline Entertainment, where he worked with out executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron on such long-form projects as The Reagans and Annie. Marc Leonard moves from vice president for program and promotions scheduling at Comedy Central to vice president for programming and scheduling at Logo. The new network is set to launch June 30 in as many as 10 million homes. (Andrew Wallenstein, via Reuters)