Berwick to lead NBCU lifestyle group

NBCUniversal (NBCU) has created a new-look lifestyle channels division to be headed up by Bravo veteran Frances Berwick, following the exit of E! Entertainment president Suzanne Kolb.

Frances Berwick

NBCU’s Lifestyle Group will be made up of E!, Esquire Network, Bravo and Oxygen and led by Berwick, who first joined the firm in 1996.

Berwick was most recently head of Oxygen and Bravo, but will now add the strategic oversight of Esquire Network and E! to her remit, following Kolb’s exit. She will also be responsible for original shows and development at E!.

Kolb, whose next move is not yet known, had been president at E! for two years, having previously worked as general manger at E! Online.

Adam Stotsky has been brought in as general manager of E!, and will oversee day-to-day operations while remaining president of Esquire Network. He will report to Berwick, who in turn reports to Bonnie Hammer, NBCU Cable Entertainment chairman.

Berwick has been at Bravo since 1996, and became channel president in 2010 before adding Oxygen to her remit in 2013.

She has worked on shows including the Real Housewives franchise as well as Top Chef and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and introduced scripted shows to Bravo with the forthcoming Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce.

Stotsky, who has worked for NBCU for 12 years in various roles, became president at Esquire Network following its rebrand from Style last year.