tom ascheim

Leadership Tom Ascheim As Chief Strategy Officer & EVP Sesame Learning, Tom is responsible for business development, alignment of business strategies, and identifying innovative opportunities for connecting with future generations of little learners. Tom also oversees Sesame Learning, a vital Workshop initiative, currently under development, aimed to bring the Sesame Street advantage to classrooms and child-care settings.

Tom Ascheim has spent more than twenty-five years in the media and technology world. Most recently, he was the CEO of Newsweek, Inc. where he led an effort to relaunch the magazine and website. Following that he spearheaded the successful sale of the company to Sidney Harman and Barry Diller. Prior to Newsweek, Ascheim ran Nickelodeon’s multi-billion dollar TV group, overseeing Nickelodeon, Nick@Nite, Nick Jr., Noggin, Nicktoons and The N. Before taking over Nickelodeon, Ascheim was charged with developing and leading Nickelodeon’s digital networks group. Under his leadership, the group launched Noggin – a preschool educational brand (initially a JV between Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop), The N which served teen girls and young women and Nicktoons, a children’s animation network.

Ascheim was Nickelodeon’s first business development and strategy executive, when he started at Viacom in 1990. He went on to lead a Nickelodeon Entertainment Products (a home video and record group). He also ran product development and strategy at Viacom New Media – Viacom’s first interactive unit.

Ascheim holds a BA from Yale University in American Studies and an MPPM from The Yale School of Management.