Showtime taps Gary Levine and Jana Winograde as entertainment co-presidents

CBS Corp.’s management overhaul continued Thursday with the elevation of two senior executives — Gary Levine and Jana Winograde — into the role of co-presidents of entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc.

In October, Showtime Chief Executive David Nevins was given a huge new portfolio, overseeing programming for all of CBS following the abrupt departure of former Chief Executive Leslie Moonves amid a sexual harassment scandal. Nevins now serves as CBS’ chief creative officer, which includes oversight of CBS Entertainment as well as Showtime, but he is stretched thin at a critical time as the company tries to recover from a year of management turmoil.

Promoting Levine and Winograde at Showtime — the premium cable channel that boasts such hits as “Ray Donovan,” “Billions,” “Shameless” and “Patrick Melrose” — helps alleviate some of the pressure.

Levine joined Showtime in 2001 as head of original programming. He is one of the architects of the network’s transformation, beginning with such break-out shows as “Dexter” and “Weeds.” Levine, previously an executive at Warner Bros., also has been responsible for original movies and documentaries.

Winograde joined Showtime nearly two years ago as its president of West Coast business operations. Before that, she spent 23 years at Walt Disney Co.’s ABC network, including as head of business operations.

In their expanded roles, Levine and Winograde will be in charge of developing and supervising all aspects of Showtime Networks programming, including comedy, drama, unscripted, documentaries and films.

Both will report to Nevins and participate in the network’s marketing, digital media, program acquisitions and communications efforts. Winograde also will serve on the board of Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime and the institution.

“As we invest more deeply in creating world-class content for our audiences, this new structure positions us strongly for the future of our business,” Nevins said in a statement. Levine and Winograde “both command great respect from their colleagues inside and outside the company, and they have been key in driving our growth.”

In addition, Amy Israel was promoted to executive vice president of scripted programming, overseeing Showtime’s original scripted series.

Vinnie Malhotra was named executive vice president of nonfiction programming. He will oversee an upcoming limited series based on the controversial former chairman of Fox News, Roger Ailes. Ailes died in 2017 at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, less than a year after being ousted from Fox.

Israel and Malhotra will report to Levine and Winograde.

“Amy and Vinnie have both been major forces behind the exceptional scripted and nonfiction programming that have shaped what Showtime is today,” Nevins said. “Each has tremendous instincts for the creators and stories that define cutting-edge television, and the proven ability to bring them to fruition.”

meg.james@latimes.com

Twitter: @MegJamesLAT