NEW YORK — Senior leadership appointments across ViacomCBS’ revenue lines have been unveiled, and they’re effective upon closing of the deal to combine CBS and Viacom.
The company say the appointments will enable ViacomCBS “to drive strong, multifaceted opportunities with distributors, advertisers and other partners.”
Jo Ann Ross, President and Chief Advertising Revenue Officer at CBS, will serve as President and Chief Advertising Revenue Officer for ViacomCBS Domestic Advertising Sales.
Ross will direct all of ViacomCBS’ multiplatform media sales efforts, leading an integrated ad sales team that the companies say “will drive revenue by connecting agency partners and advertisers with the company’s unmatched engagement, reach and innovative solutions.”
John Halley, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ad Solutions at Viacom, will serve as COO/Advertising Revenue and EVP/Advanced Marketing Solutions, at ViacomCBS, reporting to Ross. In this role, Halley will oversee commercial and business operations for the unified advertising team, as well as ViacomCBS’ portfolio of differentiated advanced advertising and marketing solutions across its linear, digital and social footprint.
Ray Hopkins, President of Television Networks Distribution at CBS, will serve as President of U.S. Network Distribution at ViacomCBS, overseeing the combined company’s broadcast network affiliation distribution agreements, as well as domestic distribution of the company’s owned and operated television stations, channels and networks across all platforms. He will also drive ViacomCBS’ live linear content and on-demand digital distribution deals with third-party platforms.
CBS Global Distribution Group President/CEO Armando Nuñez, who also serves as Chief Content Licensing Officer, will serve as Chairman of Global Distribution and Chief Content Licensing Officer at ViacomCBS, overseeing all content licensing, including worldwide distribution and domestic syndication, for ViacomCBS-owned programming to third-party platforms.
Dan Cohen, President of Worldwide Home Entertainment & Television Distribution at Paramount, will serve as President of Global Content Licensing at ViacomCBS, reporting to Nuñez.
Pam Kaufman, President of Viacom/Nickelodeon Global Consumer Products, will serve as President of Global Consumer Products and will be responsible for the combined company’s consumer products business, including global oversight of product and business development, licensing, merchandising, retail sales, consumer insights and marketing.
“These appointments mark an important step in the integration of CBS and Viacom,” said Bob Bakish, President and Chief Executive Officer, Viacom, who will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of ViacomCBS upon close. “The seasoned executives we announced today will capitalize on ViacomCBS’ must-watch programming, iconic library and franchises, as well as its global production capacity to drive important new distribution, content licensing and advertising opportunities all over the world.”
Viacom International Media Networks President/CEO David Lynn will oversee the combined company’s international media networks, including Network 10 in Australia.
With 22% of television viewership in the U.S., ViacomCBS will boast a portfolio that includes CBS, Showtime, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central and Paramount Network.
The merger remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by early December.
