Brian Doherty, a veteran of the CW‘s ad-sales department who was instrumental in developing ties between Madison Avenue and series such as “Arrow” and “Gossip Girl,” is leaving — the latest in a parade of TV sales veterans to exit as the industry consolidates and new owners take control of various properties.
Doherty, who has been with the CW or its predecessor, the WB, since 1999, had been serving as executive vice president of multi-platform advertising sales, reporting to Todd Braverman, recently a senior executive at Warner Bros. Discovery’s cable networks, who is now head of national ad sales for CW. Doherty is expected to depart on November 1, according to a memo sent by Braverman to staffers Monday.
CW, previously owned jointly by Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global, was purchased by Nexstar Media in 2022. Other senior ad sales executives, including Rob Tuck and Barbra Robin, have also departed. Since Nexstar took over management, it has sought to package CW inventory with that from other operations, such as the NewsNation cable outlet.
The network is relying less on the younger-skewing superhero dramas for which it was once known in favor of broader material, including LIV Golf matches and a reality show called “F-Boy Island” as well as series like “Son of a Critch” and “Sullivan’s Crossing.”
Many major media companies have overhauled its ad-sales department in recent months. Warner Bros. let many executives exit who had specialized in cable networks like CNN, TNT and TBS. Paramount Global reorganized its department so that specific executives are assigned particular media agencies upon which to call. At NBCUniversal, the head of the ad-sales division, Linda Yaccarino, left abruptly after it had been discovered she had been in talks to take on a senior role at Twitter, the social-media platform now known as X. Krishan Bhatia, a key Yaccarino lieutenant, recently left NBCU as well.
“It is with sadness that inform you all that I will be leaving my position as Executive Vice President of Nexstar/CW National Sales in the coming weeks,” Doherty said in a memo. “I can’t begin to explain in words my gratitude to each member of the Nexstar/CW sales team. Over the past 25 years, I can honestly say that I have had the privilege of working with the most talented and successful people in our industry. I will be forever grateful for your dedication and for helping create a culture that was second to none.”
