Skydance sports chief David Berson names Craig Barry and Jeff Gerttula to top roles

Mixed · 2David Berson, the CBS Sports veteran who is now chairman of Skydance's Global Sports Group, announced his leadership team on Thursday 29 October 2026. 1 2 Mixed · 2Craig Barry, a long-time TNT Sports executive, was named executive vice president and chief content officer. Deadline says Barry worked at TNT and Turner sports for nearly four decades. 2 1 Mixed · 2According to Berson's memo, Barry will be responsible for all production, including remote and live event production, studio production, on-air talent, features, creative content, graphics and editorial. Barry reports to Berson. 1 2

Mixed · 2Jeff Gerttula, who has led digital operations across CBS Sports, was named executive vice president and managing director. The role covers digital, international, strategy and business development for sports. 2 1 Centre · 1Berson said the international structure is still being assessed, and that Gerttula will be the point person with the international sports teams. Bennett Spector, who oversees Bleacher Report and House of Highlights, and Yang Adija, focused on digital strategy and operations, will join Gerttula's team. 1 Centre · 1The roster also names Patty Power (operations and engineering), Dan Weinberg (programming), Chris Carter (chief financial officer), Kelly Dunne (marketing) and Jen Sabatelle (communications) as executive vice presidents. It names Bryn Berglund (human resources), Doug Bernstein (insights and audience strategy), Kevin Glidewell (legal) and Deanna O'Toole (business affairs) as senior vice presidents. 1

Centre · 1Deadline reports that the appointments are part of restructuring after this month's $110 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery created Skydance. It says Berson was elevated the week the merger closed, as TNT Sports chief Luis Silberwasser announced his departure. 1 Mixed · 2Deadline says the roster follows the usual merger pattern, in which executives from the acquiring company prevail, and calls Barry a notable exception. Variety also calls the Barry appointment surprising, because it brings a veteran of the acquired company into the new leadership. 1 2 Centre · 1Exits in the reorganisation include 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. Berson's memo praised the departing executives. Deadline says Sports Business Journal reported the appointments first. 1

Left · 1Variety presents Barry as a possible source of creative approaches to rights and formats. It cites Barry's work testing alliances with emerging sports such as videogames and creating celebrity-sports concepts. It points to TNT Sports' backing of "The Match" and a "Dunkman" contest, and to interest in "Unrivaled", the women's basketball league. 2 Left · 1Variety adds that the combined company will hold the NCAA men's basketball tournament rights under one umbrella for the first time since 2010, after Warner and Paramount shared them for several years. Variety suggests this is one reason Berson may want an expert from outside the CBS side. The article gives the year as "early 2007", which appears to be an error. 2