Tom Leonardis

By VARIETY STAFF

Whoopi Goldberg has appointed longtime associate Tom Leonardis prexy of Whoop Inc., where he will continue his role as development exec for Goldberg's production deal with Columbia TriStar Television Distribution. Goldberg and Leonardis are developing ideas and acquiring properties for series, longform, specials, gameshows and children's programming for all dayparts.

With Goldberg since 1995, Leonardis was previously producer on "The Suzanne Somers Show," "The Marilu Henner Show," VH1's "E-Watch" and was an associate producer at Fred/Alan, MTV's Gotham-based ad agency.