CBS Board Now Interviewing CEO Prospects

CBS has whittled down its list of potential CEO candidates to fewer than 10 — even as its list of potential merger partners gets longer, reports The NYPost.

The broadcasting giant’s board — looking to replace disgraced ex-CEO Les Moonves, who was ousted last fall amid a slew of sexual-misconduct allegations — is looking to wrap up the search by the end of March, sources told The Post.

The board is currently in the process of meeting with a select group of six to eight candidates culled by executive-search firm Korn Ferry, as well as advisers close to Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of CBS.

While prominent execs like former Disney chief operating officer Tom Staggs, Starz COO Jeffrey Hirsch and CBS interim CEO Joe Ianniello are on the list, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding CBS’ future that has made the top job more difficult to fill.

Indeed, it’s unclear whether CBS will merge with Viacom or another company, or undergo a massive roll-up with Viacom and a third firm. The company’s board is now in the early stages of exploring the options.

The CBS board isn’t making a move on Viacom now partly because of a legal settlement between Redstone and CBS in September, in which Redstone agreed to not push a merger unless CBS’ board deemed it the best option.

“They need to demonstrate they considered more than just buying Viacom so later if they get sued they can show that they looked at other real alternatives,” a media executive said.

That twist may put interim CEO Ianniello in a good spot to become CBS’ permanent CEO. He could be a stand-in until the CBS board acts on its M&A strategy, an insider noted.

“Shari is starting to warm up to Joe,” a source close to the process said.