CEO of CBS Corporation

Background:

American broadcast network executive Leslie Moonves is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation. Prior to this, he became Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Viacom, Inc.(2004-2005), CBS Corp. Board of Directors (1999), President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Television (1998), President of CBS Entertainment (1995), President of Warner Bros. Television (1993) and President of Lorimar Television (1989-1993). He also emerged as an actor during the mid- to late-1970s, appearing in stage and TV productions.

For his contribution in broadcasting, Moonves wad handed a Gold Medal Award, one of the most renowned accolades in media and entertainment presented by he International Radio and Television Society. In addition, he has nabbed a Sherrill Corwin Award from the American Jewish Committee, an honor given to prominent leaders in the entertainment and communications industry. Thanks to his work on CBS, Moonves has been elected Entertainment Weekly's “Most Powerful Man in Hollywood” and Variety's “Showman of the Year” as well as has become the recipient of a Career Achievement Award from the Casting Society of America.

Les

Childhood and Family:

Leslie Moonves was born on October 6, 1949, in New York, New York. He spent his childhood in Valley Stream, New York where he attended and graduated from Valley Stream Central High School. Upon high school, he enrolled at the Bucknell University and later studied acting under the guidance of Sanford Meisner at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse.

On December 17, 1978, Les, as he is known by family and close friends, married Nancy Weisenfield, but they later divorced in December 2004. They share three children, Adam, Michael and Sara Moonves. Les married second wife Julie Chen, a TV personality of CBS' “The Early Show” and “Big Brother” fame, on December 23, 2004. Julie is 21 years his junior. Les currently resides in he hills above Brentwood, California.

Former Actor

Career:

Leslie Moonves made his debut as an actor after graduating from Bucknell University. Trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, he performed in various plays and also landed guest spots in such TV series as “Cannon,” “Gemini Man” (both 1976) and “The Six Million Dollar Man” (1977) as well as a bit part in a 1980 TV film starring Billy Crystal called “Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb” before deciding to become a stage producer in Los Angeles and on Broadway.

The New York native began his career as a broadcast network executive when he was appointed as Vice President for Saul Ilson Productions and a development executive for Catalina Productions. He then became Vice President of films and miniseries for Twentieth Century Fox Television, in which he was also responsible for first-run syndication and pay/cable programming. In 1985, Moonves moved to Lorimar Television to become an executive who was in charge of the company's movies and miniseries, and become head of creative affairs three years later. His career at Lorimar climaxed with his position as President of the company from 1989 to1993.

When Lorimar Television and Warner Bros. Television united operations, Moonves became the President of Warner Bros. Television in July 1993. The post enabled him to oversee a television division that provided the greatest number of programs to network television for nine successive years. Some of these programs were “ER,” “Friends” and “The Drew Carey Show.” After two years, Moonves left Warner Bros. Television for CBS.

It was with CBS that Moonves has enjoyed the peak of her career. Joining in July 1995 as President of CBS Entertainment, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Television in April 1998 and was chosen CBS Corp. Board of Directors in July 1999. By 2003, he had been promoted to Chairman and CEO of CBS. Under the endorsement of Moonves, CBS has created a number of top-rated TV series, including “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation;” “Survivor,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “CSI: Miami,” “Without A Trace,” “The King of Queens,” “Cold Case” and “CSI: NY,” a great effort that finally established CBS as the most watch TV network in America.

From 2004 to December 2005, Moonves served as co-president and co-chief operating officer of Viacom, Inc. the forerunner to CBS Corporation. After the Viacom breakup in 2005, he was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation, a position he holds until now. His duties include managing all operations of the company that include the CBS Television Network, The CW, CBS Television Stations, CBS Television Distribution Group, CBS Paramount Network Television, Showtime, CBS Radio, CBS Records, CBS Outdoor, Simon & Schuster, CBS Interactive, CSTV Networks, Inc., CBS Consumer Products, CBS Home Entertainment, CBS Outernet and CBS Films.

Awards:

• Casting Society of America: Career Achievement Award, 2000

• International Radio and Television Society: Gold Medal Award

• American Jewish Committee: Sherrill Corwin Award