VIACOMCBS RESTRUCTURES ITS INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS

After successfully completed its long-awaited merger, ViacomCBS has now undergone a major management restructure of its international networks core leadership team and structure. The company said that it is simplifying ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) into two “brand groups” and three “pan-regional management hubs”. Overall, all parties will report to David Lynn, President and CEO of VCNI.

“Consolidating our international flagship brands into two groups will simplify our structure and more closely align our business with ViacomCBS’ US brands, enabling us to share more content and resources across our different brands and extract maximum value from our content investment and libraries,”  Lynn said.

In terms of brand leadership, Kerry Taylor, currently EVP of MTV International and Chief Marketing Officer for VCNI UK, has been promoted to EVP of VCNI Entertainment and Youth Brands. She will report to Chris McCarthy, President of Entertainment and Youth Brands of ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks, along with Lynn, and will oversee the international operations of MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Network and BET.

Meanwhile, Jules Borkent has been promoted to EVP of VCNI Kids and Family, reporting to Lynn and Brian Robbins, President of Kids and Family Entertainment at ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks. Borkent has been with Nickelodeon since 2001, while Taylor has been with MTV International since 2007.

“Kerry and Jules are exceptional creative and strategic professionals. Kerry brings equal parts marketing acumen and a genuine connection to the global youth zeitgeist that has driven MTV’s successful international franchise strategy and ratings success. Jules is a respected industry voice, who’s dedicated to bringing unique and diverse content to Nickelodeon audiences around the world,”  Lynn added.

For VCNI pan-regional leadership, ex ITV Studios international President Maria Kyriacou will be named President of ViacomCBS Networks UK and Australia, effective on February 3. This also includes responsibility for Ireland, New Zealand and Israel. In particular, the company said her role will focus on the operations of free-to-air networks Channel 5 and Network 10.

Network 10’s CEO Paul Anderson will become EVP of ViacomCBS Networks Australia and New Zealand, while Raffaele Annecchino – currently President of the division’s operations across Southern and Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa – will take on an expanded role in the new structure as President of ViacomCBS Networks Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia (EMEAA). The third pan-regional leader will be JC Acosta, as President of ViacomCBS Networks Americas. Borkent and Acosta step into the shoes of Pierluigi Gazzolo, now President of Studios and OTT for ViacomCBS Networks International, who was President of VCNI Americas and EVP of Nickelodeon International.

“ViacomCBS is truly a global leader in terms of the quality, volume and range of content we produce and own and we aim to exploit the incredible pipelines at our disposal to deliver exceptional growth across international markets, not just for ourselves but for our partners as well,”  Lynn concluded.