CBS executive Ron Scalera dead at 49

LOS ANGELES, April 22 (UPI) -- Ron Scalera, executive vice president and creative director of the CBS Marketing Group, has died suddenly in Los Angeles, CBS said. He was 49.

The network didn't mention the cause of Scalera's Wednesday death in its announcement.

"It is a day of profound sadness, shock and loss at CBS," Leslie Moonves, president and chief executive officer of CBS Corp., said in a statement. "We have lost a gifted colleague and a friend whose work graced the air of CBS every day, and whose engaging personality touched our lives. The creativity, energy and passion Ron put into his work will be sorely missed -- from his brilliant on-air work and upfront presentations, to new and innovative forms of promotion. The level of admiration and respect he has here is exceeded only by the number of close friends who will remember a wonderful person who did everything at full speed, energizing and inspiring those around him. Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to his wife Elizabeth and his children, Rachel and Michael, whom we all know so well through the many loving and prideful conversations Ron shared about his family everyday. One of the true good guys has left us far too early and we grieve with all our hearts."

Scalera, a New Jersey native who joined CBS in 1997, helped boost the network's viewership by heading up the ad campaigns for many successful series, including the "CSI" franchise, "NCIS," "The Big Bang Theory," "The Good Wife" and, most recently, "Undercover Boss."

In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his mother, Kathy, and brother, Paul.

Funeral arrangements are pending, CBS said.