Biography

Jack Sussman was promoted to Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment, in March 2006. He added responsibility for all alternative programming in 2020. He reports to Thom Sherman, Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Entertainment.

In his position, Sussman, who has been head of CBS specials since 1998, serves as the Network's chief liaison to the music industry, working with managers, recording artists, record labels and music suppliers to identify new and established performers whose music or personal appearances can be integrated into the Network's primetime series, movies, specials and live events. Sussman also works with CBS' interactive division to identify music-related content for wireless and the internet.

Sussman has long overseen the Network's blue-chip events and specials, such as THE GRAMMY AWARDS, THE TONY AWARDS and THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, as well as CBS' annual presentations of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Recently, he supervised the important tribute specials JOHN LEWIS: CELEBRATING A HERO and ESSENTIAL HEROES: A MOMENTO LATINO EVENT. Sussman has also been responsible for supervising live entertainment programming, such as the SURVIVOR and BIG BROTHER finales and reunion specials. In his newly expanded role, he is responsible for supervising both of those series, along with other CBS hits, such as TOUGH AS NAILS, UNDERCOVER BOSS and long-running THE AMAZING RACE.

While at CBS, Sussman has spearheaded successful specials featuring some of contemporary music's top stars in their first network television special, including Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Ricky Martin, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Elton John, Tina Turner, "The Beatles: The Night That Changed America," "Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life-An All-Star Tribute," "Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees," "Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo," and the top rated "Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration."

He has also been responsible for some of CBS' highest-rated and most critically acclaimed specials, including "The Carol Burnett Show: Show Stoppers," which was seen by more than 30 million viewers, "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special," "I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special," "CBS at 75" and "Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special." He also supervised the editing and colorization of newly colorized classic episodes of "I Love Lucy" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

Sussman joined CBS in August 1998 as Vice President, Specials, from Cinecanal, where he led the programming and creative services reorganization of the Latin American movie channel that is jointly owned by Universal, Paramount, MGM and FOX. He was promoted to Senior Vice President, Specials in 2000.

From 1996-1997, Sussman was Vice President, Head of Programming for MTV Latin America, responsible for production and original programming, development, music programming, scheduling, talent and artist relations, news and on-air promotion.

Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Production and Original Programming at VH1 from 1992-1995, where he developed and produced new series and specials. Sussman's background also includes positions at CNN and NBC News.

As an executive producer/producer, his credits include "The VH1 Honors," the live concert series "Centerstage," "Paul McCartney at the Hollywood Bowl," "MTV Latin America: MTV Unplugged," "Conversations with the Rolling Stones," "Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope Tour" and "Stand Up Spotlight."

Sussman serves on the executive committee of the Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular and is on the board of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Sussman is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a B.A. in radio, television and motion pictures.
- IMDb mini biography by: ViacomCBS Official site Bio