WWE Appoints Eric Bischoff, Paul Heyman to Executive Director Positions

WWE has named veteran pro wrestling executives Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff to newly created executive director roles, the wrestling entertainment outfit said Thursday.

Heyman, formerly president of the ECW pro wrestling company, will serve as executive director of Monday Night Raw while Bischoff, former president of the WCW and a New York Times best-selling author, has been tapped as executive director of SmackDown Live, both reporting directly to WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon.

In their new roles, Heyman and Bischoff will oversee the creative development of live weekly shows as well as ensure integration across all platforms and lines of business, said WWE officials.

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.