Harpo taps Valerie Schaer

Was previously exec vp at Worldwide Pants

By Nellie Andreeva

July 27, 2009, 08:50 PM ET

Valerie Schaer has been named executive vp creative development at Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Prods.

Schaer, who starts Aug. 17, comes to Harpo from David Letterman's Worldwide Pants, where she was executive vp, overseeing all production, development, new media and business development.

She will work in partnership with Harriet Seitler, Harpo's executive vp marketing and development, on creating syndication, network, cable, and digital projects.

Schaer will be based in New York and will report to Harpo president Tim Bennett and chairman Oprah Winfrey.

Schaer has spent six years at Worldwide Pants, which produces "Late Show With David Letterman" and "The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson."

She also was producer on the feature "Strangers With Candy" and the feature documentary "The Youngest Candidate."

Schaer was executive vp programming and development at Universal Domestic TV from 1999-2003, where she developed such syndicated series as "Crossing Over With John Edward."

From 1995-99, Schaer was a senior executive at ABC, where she developed and launched the "The View" with Barbara Walters' production company, and was vp current programming and production at Lifetime from 1989-93.

Harpo taps Valerie Schaer

Was previously exec vp at Worldwide Pants

By Nellie Andreeva

July 27, 2009, 08:50 PM ET