Viacom and CBS Name New Leadership to Business Segments

By Kimberly Chin

CBS Corp. (CBS) and Viacom Inc. (VIA) have named several new executives to lead its various business lines, ahead of the closing of the companies' anticipated merger.

Jo Ann Ross, president and chief revenue officer at CBS, will serve as president and chief advertising revenue officer at ViacomCBS's domestic advertising sales unit. John Halley, Viacom's chief operating officer of ad solutions, will serve as the COO of advertising revenue. He will report to Ms. Ross.

The companies have also named CBS President of Television Networks Distribution Ray Hopkins as the president of U.S. network distribution. Meanwhile, CBS president and chief executive of the global distribution group and chief content licensing officer, Armando Nunez, will become the chair of global distribution at ViacomCBS, in addition to his chief content licensing officer role.

CBS and Viacom have tapped Dan Cohen, president of worldwide home entertainment and distribution at Paramount, to be president of global content licensing. He will report to Mr. Nunez.

Pam Kaufman, president of global consumer products at Viacom's Nickelodeon will become the president of global consumer products. David Lynn, Viacom's president and chief executive of international media networks, will have an expanded role, overseeing international media networks.

"These appointments mark an important step in the integration of CBS and Viacom," said Viacom Chief Executive Bob Bakish, who will soon become the president and CEO of ViacomCBS.

The company expects the merger to be completed in early December.

Write to Kimberly Chin at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 30, 2019 13:16 ET (17:16 GMT)

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