Showtime Communications boss Trisha Cardoso (pictured above, right) is leaving the company at the end of June to become president and chief giving officer of the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation. She will be replaced in the premium cable channel role by Johanna Fuentes (left), who has been promoted to executive vice president and is moving out west for the job.
Cardoso became EVP of Corp Comms in 2011. On the job, she spearheaded the launch of the “Twin Peaks” revival, as well as those for “Homeland,” “Billions,” “Ray Donovan” and “The Affair.” Cardoso also led several successful Emmy and Golden Globes “For Your Consideration” campaigns.
“Trisha is a highly skilled communications executive and was instrumental in helping shape the modern face of Showtime,” said David Nevins, president and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “Time and again, her expert nurturing of the company’s vision and her deft handling of specific big-ticket initiatives proved a tremendous asset for us. We congratulate her on this opportunity to lead the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation and look forward to seeing her have a powerful effect on its behalf.”
“Trisha redefined and elevated the Showtime Networks communications strategy during an important time in the company’s growth,” added Gil Schwartz, senior executive vice president and chief communications officer, CBS Corporation. “She leaves behind a strong legacy of achievement for the network and our communications department. Her exceptional skills and generosity of spirit will serve the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation very well.”
Cardoso has served as a board member of the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation for the past two years. The “Two and a Half Men” creator’s charity funds organizations in the areas of education, health and the arts, with a focus on Los Angeles.
“I am so grateful to have someone of Trisha’s caliber to help guide my family foundation,” Lorre said. “I’ve known her for over 20 years and have always been amazed at her intellect, compassion and leadership abilities. She has already been instrumental in helping set up the ‘Big Bang Theory’ scholarship at UCLA, and I look forward to working with her over the coming years as we continue to expand our philanthropic efforts.
“It is not easy to leave a place in which I have invested so much – or that I have so enjoyed,” Cardoso stated, “It’s only for an opportunity as special and personally meaningful as the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation that I would even consider it. I very much want to thank David Nevins, Gil Schwartz, Showtime Chairman Matt Blank and CBS Corporation Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves for a fantastic seven years here, and for all their support as I make this move. My decision is made easier by the knowledge that I am leaving the communications group in superb hands. Johanna Fuentes has been a wonderful partner and fellow strategist, and I look forward to following Showtime’s progress as she leads the department into the future.”
“Johanna is one of the smartest people in our business and the epitome of dedication to her work,” Nevins said of Cardoso’s replacement, who joined Showtime from Bravo in 2010. “She understands not only Showtime but the entire industry inside and out, navigating the complex world of communications with both nuance and clarity, not to mention good humor. With her extensive and diverse experience, she is perfectly positioned to drive our communications strategy forward as our business grows into the future.”
“From the day she walked into my office 17 years ago for her first interview with CBS, Johanna’s confidence and command of media have always impressed me,” Schwartz added. “Since then, I have watched her grow into a consummate communications professional – passionate about her mission, creative in her approach, personable in her relationships and steadfast in her execution. Her promotion underscores these strengths, from which Showtime Networks will benefit greatly for years to come.”