July 2024

David Stapf has served as president of CBS Studios since 2004, overseeing all aspects of the prolific studio.

During his tenure, CBS Studios has become one of the industry’s leading suppliers of programming. It has more than 60 series currently in various stages of development, production or airing across broadcast, cable, streaming services and other emerging platforms. Stapf has shepherded some of the most important television series and franchises to date including the launch of NCIS in 2003 and the expansion of the NCISverse, now spanning over 1,000 episodes and quickly becoming the world’s #1 television franchise, five iterations of the CSI franchise, the critically acclaimed “Good Universe” including THE GOOD WIFE, THE GOOD FIGHT and new hit series, ELSBETH.

Stapf also helped guide the return of the Star Trek universe to television. Fan-favorite series under his leadership also includes YOUR HONOR, FRASIER and FIRE COUNTRY, the Australian comedy and international sensation COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS, the award-winning THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT, and buzzy new fall series such as MATLOCK and POPPA’S HOUSE.

Stapf began his career in 1985 as a unit publicist for Embassy Television. Over the next 12 years, he held publicity positions at Lorimar Television and Warner Bros. Television, where he learned the importance promotion plays in the success of a program and worked across some of the most iconic television series including “Friends,” “E.R.” and “Murphy Brown.” He was named senior vice president of Publicity, Advertising and Promotion for Warner Bros. in 1997, and led some of the industry’s most successful series launch campaigns.

His career journey brought him to CBS in 1999, where he transitioned to Current Programming as senior vice president. In that role, Stapf shepherded the shows that have made CBS the #1 network. He worked with each program’s producers to maintain the quality and direction of established comedies and dramas like EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, THE KING OF QUEENS and JUDGING AMY, as well as playing a key role in establishing newer hits that helped transform the Network, before ascending to his current position.