OWN is shaking up its leadership team, with co-president Sheri Salata set to step down from her post to launch her own firm. Erik Logan will continue as the sole president of the cabler that is a joint venture of Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications.
OWN said Salata plans to launch a “brand innovation agency and content/story platform.” OWN and Winfrey’s Oprah Media Group have signed on as clients.
“I give my deep thanks and appreciation to Sheri not only for helping to create a strong platform of growth for OWN and our digital business, but for her tireless commitment and sacrifice producing the final years of ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’ It was an unparalleled time of our lives,” said Winfrey, who is CEO of OWN. “I am excited about what we are doing at OWN and look forward to continuing our growth with Erik and the dedicated team as we take our company to the next level.”
Salata and Logan were named co-presidents of OWN in 2011 at a time when the cable venture was struggling to find its footing and had become a revolving door for executives. The pair are credited with helping to solidify the channel’s focus on lifestyle and entertainment programming. OWN has been on an upswing with the success of its Tyler Perry produced soaps “If Loving You Is Wrong” and “Love Thy Neighbor.” OWN is expanding further into scripted programming with drama series “Greenleaf” and “Queen Sugar” bowing later this year.
Salata said it was her decision to leave the Winfrey fold.
“It’s time to take what has been the ride of my life to the next level in creating my own agency and doing what I love best — telling stories,” Salata said. “Oprah has been my North Star and spiritual mentor for 20 years and her faith in me and this next venture means everything. Erik and the entire OWN team are simply the best in the business and I can’t wait to see what unfolds.”
Salata joined Winfrey’s Harpo Studios in 1995 as a promotions producer for her top-rated syndicated talk show. She rose to become exec producer of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from 2006 until its end in 2011.
Logan joined Harpo Studios as executive VP in 2008, prior to to the launch of OWN.
