PR chief Paul Hewitt has exited the CW after 22 years amid dozens of layoffs at the network, an individual with knowledge confirmed to TheWrap.
Beth Feldman, a former partner at Beyond PR Group, has been tapped by Nexstar to replace Hewitt, effectively immediately.
Hewitt’s exit — and the layoffs — join a slew of sweeping changes to the network under the control of Nexstar, most notably replacing CW CEO Mark Pedowitz with current president Dennis Miller, a former board member.
Beginning his career at Fox Entertainment’s research and marketing department, Hewitt worked his way up to the network’s senior vice president of network communication, overseeing all communications strategies, media relations and internal communications. The publicity executive worked at UPN when the company merged with The WB Network in 2006, and oversaw the launch of The CW as the vice president of corporate communications.
“For the past 20 years, I have been incredibly fortunate to have played a role, albeit a small one, in helping shape, influence and even define popular culture with the series we created and shared with our passionate fans,” Hewitt said of the transition in a statement Tuesday.
“This job has been an absolute gift,” he continued, “and I’m eternally grateful for all of my colleagues in our CW family, the producers and talent on the shows too many to list that I have had the pleasure of working alongside, and above all, a world-class PR team that I am proud to say has always been the best of the best in this industry. I’m looking forward to jumping headlong into the next chapter of my career, and I wish Dennis, Sean, Beth and everyone at The CW and Nexstar all of the best as they steer this network into its bold, new future.”
Feldman will bring her experience leading digital media campaigns for projects such as “The Talk,” “Survivor,” “The Good Wife,” “Mom,” “48 Hours,” “The Goldbergs,” “Dr. Ken” and “Timeless” to the network, where she led internal and external communication and program publicity.
In addition to her new duties, Feldman will continue serving as executive director of communication for the networks division of Nexstar Media Inc. by overseeing communications strategies for NewsNation, where she supervised the launch of Chris Cuomo’s “Cuomo” and has been preparing for the network’s upcoming midterms coverage.
“Beth’s deep connection to the television entertainment industry and her vast experience creating successful promotional and awareness campaigns for a broad array of news, talk, and entertainment programming make her an invaluable resource for The CW,” Miller, who Feldman will report to in her new position, said. “She is an innovative and creative thinker and has well-established relationships with important media outlets across the country and here in Hollywood. I am looking forward to the energy she will bring to our communication efforts as she continues building on the solid foundation established by Paul Hewitt and his team during the last 22 years. We thank Paul for all his help and wish him well.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining The CW Network, where I will be working alongside a team of industry veterans who are just as passionate about the broadcast entertainment industry as I am,” Feldman said in a statement. “I look forward to supporting Dennis on the ground floor of this new venture and hope to infuse a sense of excitement and enthusiasm as we strive to reach viewers in strategic and inventive ways.”
