Michael Hermann
President/CEO

Through an inspired run in the brand world, Michael has grown into a triple threat, combining expertise in content creation, business development, and brand strategy. That's led to the creation of Wicked Cow Studios, a unique, Book-First content incubator dedicated to ground-up franchise development. For more than a dozen years, Michael and his legacy company, Wicked Cow Entertainment, created uncommon opportunities for some of the world's most beloved pop culture brands including management of the estates of Roberto Clemente and The Notorious B.I.G., the Julius Erving brand, Pelé, Wiffle®, Big League Chew, and Maxim, among others. More recently, Michael became Derek Jeter's co-founding and co-publishing partner in Jeter Publishing, a content studio including a joint venture partnership with publishing giant Simon & Schuster.

Adam Hirsch
Chief Content Officer

Adam Hirsch has spent a most colorful career in TV and digital media. Over 20 years, he’s created and produced series and specials for more than two dozen TV networks, including NBC, Discovery, History, A&E, MTV, and more. Most recently he parlayed his TV chops into digital media development and production as Head of Multimedia for WPP’s fastest-growing content agency, Group SJR. There he led a team that created genre-defining content for clients such as GE, Ford, Target, Reebok, Johnson & Johnson, ExxonMobil, Target and others. Before joining SJR, Adam showran two original series for MTV International and spent more than a decade at NBC Universal, where he was instrumental in launching both NBC News Productions and Peacock Productions. He's an Emmy Award nominee and winner of the CINE Golden Eagle Award.

Samantha Merley
Creative Director

A do-everything creative with a deep understanding of the business and the beauty of brand, Sam plays a vital role in Wicked Cow's unmatched strategic playbook. The product of a musical family, Sam entered the design program at New York's School of Visual Arts before graduating high school and was an agency art director by 23. As both a consulting strategist and a hands-on creative, she brings a multi-disciplinary, soup-to-nuts approach to creative storytelling that incorporates her design background, editorial gifts, and rigorous career of digital, visual, and marketing capabilities. Sam has guided projects for clients such as Newman's Own, Versace USA, Gay Men's Health Crisis, A&E Television International, Louis Jadot, Marriott, and many more.

Elliot Schaeffer
General Counsel

Elliot has been an integral force in shaping the legal and business structure of Wicked Cow. Specializing in intellectual property licensing and corporate and commercial law, Elliot has overseen full protection of WCS’ IP in addition to assisting in negotiations for brand extension initiatives and media partnerships. His extensive litigation experience in both State and Federal Courts is second-to-none, representing his corporate clients in a variety of matters stemming from business-related issues, including employment litigation, shareholders’ rights, and contractual legal matters. With more than 30 years of experience in private practice and having served as Law Secretary to the Honorable Duncan S. McNabb in the Supreme Court, State of New York, early in his career, Elliot brings an invaluable wealth of talent to Wicked Cow.

Matt Russo
Chief of Staff

Young rainmaker and Chief of Staff Matt Russo brings a colorful skillset to Wicked Cow. Matt had a wide-reaching hand in Wicked Cow's first Book-Franchise, It's All In Your Head, and his current duties span business development, publishing operations, and day-to-day management of the office. The UMass grad is an experienced Irish dairy farmer, a licensed bartender, and an ordained minister. The cow connection is strictly coincidence.