Exclusive: CTD's Meyerson Steps Down

FitzPatrick, Ferullo promoted to SVPs, programming, at CBS division

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/16/2012 2:37:49 PM

Maureen FitzPatrick and Joe Ferullo have been promoted to senior VP of programming and development at CBS Television Distribution, both overseeing current programming as well as development of new first-run shows.

Both FitzPatrick and Ferullo will report to Armando Nunez, who two weeks ago added domestic distribution to his duties as president of CBS Global Television, following John Nogawski's departure. Nunez took over the duties of John Nogawski, who had been president of CBS Paramount since 2002 and went on to head CTD. Nunez had been president of CBS Studios International since 2004.

Aaron Meyerson, who had been the division's president of programming and development, is departing the company. Meyerson was hired to oversee CTD's programming efforts in Jan. 2011.

A CTD spokesman confirmed the changes.

FitzPatrick joined CTD from FremantleMedia North America, where she was senior VP of comedy development. She had been with Fremantle since 2006, starting out as vice president of digital content and development. While there, she launched Fremantle's first online channel, Atomic Wedgie TV, and developed the comedy Secret Girlfriend for Comedy Central based on an original Web series.

FitzPatrick has a long track record in daytime television. She's been an executive producer, programming consultant and producer, with deals at Sony, Buena Vista and Fox TV Studios. Among her credits is executive producing such daytime shows as Living it Up! With Ali & Jack, Men Are From Mars, Women are From Venus and Donny and Marie. She also was a consulting producer on Warner Bros.' Ellen.

Other credits include The Newlywed Game, The Dating Game and Whose Line Is It Anyway? She also served as executive producer of GSN's revamp of the game show, Pyramid.

Prior to working in television, FitzPatrick studied improv at Chicago's Second City and was the executive producer and cofounder of the Chicago-based Illegitimate Players Theater Company.

She earned her bachelor's degree in broadcast communications and political science from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.

Ferullo has been with CTD since 2006, serving as vice president of programming and development. He currently oversees some of CTD's top syndicated shows, including Judge Judy, Dr. Phil, Inside Edition, Judge Joe Brown, Rachael Ray and The Doctors.

An Emmy winner, Ferullo previously was a producer at NBC and NBC News, including producing Dateline NBC, before joining CBS.

Before that, Ferullo also worked at ABC News and CBS News, and was a staff writer for numerous publications, including Rolling Stone Magazine. He graduated from Columbia University in New York City.