Nearly two months after Oprah Winfrey‘s nationally syndicated show ended its 25 year run, the daytime television queen is set to run the show elsewhere as chief executive officer of Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Winfrey–who will remain chairman of the network, but adding the role of chief creative officer to her repertoire–will start in the position this fall.
The 57-year-old will take over for interim CEO Peter Liguori, the chief operating officer of Discovery Communications, which co-owns the cable network with Winfrey. In an email message sent Wednesday morning to staffers at OWN and Harpo, the self-made billionaire noted the merger between the newly established channel and her production company.
“This concept of mine, of one team, one mission, and one vision is about to become a day-to-day reality,†she wrote, reported The New York Times.
Winfrey’s decision to combine the teams will hopefully boost the cable channels declining ratings.
“I have no doubt that we will all be in lock step in a very short time,†Winfrey wrote to her staffers Wednesday. “We are in this boat together in a very real way now. And I will put my brand and my future on the line because I know this ONE team – OWN/Harpo – is the boat I want to be in.â€
Winfrey replaces Lisa Erspamer as chief creative officer. Erik Logan and Sheri Salata, presidents of Harpo Studios, were appointed presidents of OWN.