Hershman to be named HBO Sports president

Ken Hershman (above) oversaw a period of impressive growth while in charge of Showtime's sports department. (Ed Mulholland/US Presswire)

NEW YORK -- HBO is set to name Showtime’s Ken Hershman as President of HBO Sports, sources told SI.com. Hershman will replace Ross Greenburg, who resigned in July.

In a statement, Showtime confirmed Hershman has left the company.

Hershman has been with Showtime since 1992, rising from an attorney with the network to the head of the sports department in 2003.

Since 2005, Hershman has taken Showtime from a boxing-heavy programming to include mixed martial arts and successful programs Inside the NFL and Inside NASCAR, as well as several feature documentaries.

Among the candidates who could replace Hershman is Lou DiBella, the former head of HBO Sports, who currently runs his own boxing promotional company.

-- Chris Mannix