Long-time Steven Tyler manager and former MTV Networks executive Eric Sherman is the new CEO of Veria Living, a media company that operates a cable network and web sites focusing on health and wellness programming.
The New York-based firm was created by Subhash Chandra, chairman of India's Zee Group and chairman of conglomerate Essel Group. Chandra created Veria Living a few years ago to "promote Eastern wellness practices globally."
Sherman is tasked with leading the expansion of Veria Living’s media properties. "This includes a television business that has grown distribution 50 percent over the past 18 months" and Veria.com, which has grown its number of unique visitors and average time spent on the site.
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Sherman managed rock legend Tyler’s career for three years as executive vp of business development for XIX Entertainment. Among other things, Sherman helped secure the music star the role as a judge on American Idol, worked on the development of a clothing line with Tommy Hilfiger and the push for Tyler's autobiography and implemented a new digital and social media strategy for him.
Earlier in his career, Sherman was general manager of such such MTV Networks brands as VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Country and MTV Espanol. He also served as president of Fuse TV.
"Unlike many media brands, Veria Living has a mission and brand that is pure and clear, and is in a great position of growth at a time when healthy living is top of mind," said Sherman. "I spent the past several years dedicated to helping to build one of the most successful brands in rock, commuting from New York to Los Angeles weekly and traveling the globe. To keep up with the wear and tear of the business, it was essential to place a renewed emphasis on my personal health and wellness."
He added: "Eating and living well have been a lifelong passion, and I look forward to working with Veria to help our growing audience do the same."
Sherman also developed media properties for XIX, including dance TV series Ballroom Blitz, produced by XIX founder Simon Fuller and Linda Pope, which will premiere on TLC this year.
"Eric’s experience launching and growing television and digital media brands is unquestioned, but it is his passion for his work and his clear understanding of how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle and maintain a work/life balance, that makes him the ideal person to take on this role at Veria Living," said Chandra. "Veria’s ultimate goal is to help people live better, healthier lives, and this wellness message is clearly resonating in the U.S. and around the world."
Privately held Veria says it offers the world’s largest lineup of first-run, original wellness programming. In the U.S., the Veria Living network is mostly available in Cablevision, Dish Network and Verizon FiOS homes, as well as in such markets as L.A., Chicago and Philadelphia.
"Veria Living should be in every home, every bedroom," Chandra told THR in 2011. "People ask me why we are not getting distribution. You can have four pornography channels, but no wellness channel. They say there is scarcity of bandwidth. But I'm sure once word of mouth spreads, they will also carry us."
E-mail: Georg.Szalai@THR.com
Twitter: @georgszalai
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