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TNA hires experienced media executive Eric Sherman as Chief Strategy Officer

In what is hoped to be a potential game changer, TNA has hired "an accomplished media and entertainment executive", Eric Sherman, to be their Chief Strategy Officer.

By Keith Harris
Can Eric Sherman (pictured in the middle) save TNA?
Can Eric Sherman (pictured in the middle) save TNA?
Scott Gries/Getty Images

In the latest move by TNA to prove to the world that their sky isn't falling in, the company announced the hiring of experienced media executive Eric Sherman as their new Chief Strategy Officer earlier today:

Eric Sherman has been named Chief Strategy Officer for TNA Entertainment effective immediately. Sherman is an accomplished media and entertainment executive who served more than 20 years with MTV Networks overseeing VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul and Palladia, served as president of Fuse TV and most recently was CEO of Veria Living, a health and wellness network. Sherman also has served as a talent manager for artists such as Steven Tyler, securing his deal to judge American Idol. In his role as Chief Strategy Officer, Sherman will develop, coordinate and oversee implementation of global strategic initiatives in advancement of TNA and its affiliated brands and properties.

"As we celebrate our 13 year anniversary, TNA, with the incredible support of our fans, has been cultivated into a robust diverse global business poised for significant growth," said TNA President Dixie Carter. "Eric’s depth of experience in television, digital media and talent management undergirds his capacity to organize and lead teams in the development and implementation of vision-fulfilling strategies. We are delighted to have him join the TNA family."

"I'm thrilled to be joining a company experiencing record international growth with content seen in more than 120 countries," said Sherman. "There is a bright future for TNA on traditional and emerging platforms, and I'm excited to join Dixie’s executive team as head of strategy."

Sherman, a resident of New York City, will split his time between his office there and the TNA Headquarters in Nashville, Tenn.

Although this could be seen as a positive sign that TNA are still willing to invest in their future, it's more likely that they called upon his services because Destination America are believed to have provisionally cancelled all their programming after the end of September. If they are unable to persuade DA to rescind that decision, then they will have to quickly find an alternative television partner and Sherman's contacts could prove invaluable in such a search. The hiring may even be a sign that TNA are preparing for a future without any television exposure in their home market at all and would have to use alternative platforms like Hulu, YouTube or their own streaming service to get their programming out to their domestic fan base. It could also be telling that Sherman isn't moving to Nashville to work in TNA's offices full time.

A quick look at his Twitter account showed that Eric Sherman has long been a fan of TNA, their Knockouts and other wrestling performers like Mick Foley and Paul Heyman, so this could be similar to the hiring of Billy Corgan as a creative team member, where Dixie Carter is asking for help from her celebrity friends in her our of need:

Looks like he'll enjoy his time working for TNA. Hopefully he'll be a beneficial hire to their future prospects. He might even be the game changer that they so obviously need. You never know.

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