Zev Shalev

(CBS)  Zev Shalev was named executive producer of CBS's The Early Show in June 2008.

Shalev was the senior broadcast producer of the program since March.

During his career, Shalev has covered a wide range of news events, including the tsunami in Indonesia, the death of Princess Diana and South Africa's transition to democracy. He has also been responsible for interviews with newsmakers such as Shimon Peres, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Gates, Nelson Mandela, Louis Farrakhan, Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Previously, he was vice president for strategic programming, as well as senior executive producer of information and entertainment programming for CanWest Global (2007-08). In that role, he was responsible for program strategy and scheduling for E!, Canada's newest national network. Zev has also been senior executive producer of "Entertainment Tonight Canada," the nation's number one entertainment magazine (2005-07).

Prior to that, he served as the executive producer of Toronto 1's news and current affairs programming (2003-05). Zev was the co-founder, CEO and executive producer of U8TV, Canada's first Internet television channel (2000-02). He served as the executive producer of CTV's "Canada AM," as well as a producer for "CTV News Specials" (1998-2000).

In South Africa, Shalev was the assistant news editor for the country's only independent radio station (1994-96), host of his own show (1993-95), and senior producer of a daily news program and host of "Collage," South Africa's top-rated national television arts program (1991-94).

Shalev has been nominated for five Gemini Awards and a Canadian New Media Award for Best New Company. his programs have been nominated for a Radio and Television News Director's Association Award (RTNDA) and two CANPRO Awards.

He was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. Shalev was graduated from the Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1994 with an honors degree in dramatic arts and media studies. He lives in New York.