Viacom CBS shuffles top content executives to bolster Paramount Plus

ViacomCBS has shuffled seven top content executives in a new leadership structure designed to bolster its streaming service Paramount Plus.

Teased recently by ViacomCBS Streaming president and CEO Tom Ryan, the new structure is intended to bolster original programming and help Paramount Plus achieve scale in a crowded market.

Executives George Cheeks, Jim Gianopulos, Bruce Gillmer, Chris McCarthy, David Nevins, Nicole Clemens and Brian Robbins will all help the service amass originals in addition to leading their respective divisions.

Tanya Giles, currently the general manager of MTV Entertainment Group, has also been elevated to centralized programming head for Paramount Plus and the conglomerate’s other streamer Pluto TV. She will report to Ryan.

“The strong launch and early months of Paramount Plus have demonstrated the power and potential of our platform, as well as audiences’ appetite for a broad and diverse array of content, all in one place,” ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish said upon the announcement. “The moves we are making today will accelerate that mission by putting ViacomCBS’ most powerful assets – world-class content, iconic brands, global infrastructure and expertise, and the best talent in the business today – behind our platforms as we pursue the global opportunity in streaming.”

The new structure clearly defines content lanes under which the executives will serve, working closely with both Ryan and Giles. CBS president and CEO Cheeks will now also act as as chief content office, news and sports, at Paramount Plus.

Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Gianopulos becomes Paramount Plus chief content officer, movies, in addition to running the studio. ViacomCBS president of music Gilmer is now chief content officer, music, for the streamer. Chris McCarthy, president of the MTV Entertainment Group, will now also serve as chief content officer for unscripted entertainment and adult animation in streaming.

As Variety previously reported, Showtime Networks chairman and CEO Nevins will become chief content officer, scripted originals, at Paramount Plus handling both drama and comedy series. As part of the shuffle, Nevins will step down from his role as chief creative officer at CBS. While he’ll continue to shepherd Showtime, top CBS executives Kelly Kahl and David Stapf will now report to Cheeks. Scott Mills will continue to oversee BET Plus in his capacity as president, reporting to Nevins.

Clemens, president of Paramount Television Studios, will expand her title to president of Paramount Plus’ original scripted series. She will report to Nevins in streaming, and continue to report to Gianopulos at PTVS.

Robbins,  president of kids and family entertainment, will take the same title at Paramount Plus, growing the global portfolio of the full range of live-action and animated fare.

Giles will also work closely with Kelly Day, ViacomCBS Networks International president of streaming and COO. Day will advise on the global streaming strategy and continue the rollout of Paramount Plus to international markets.  She will continue to report to Ryan and Raffaele Annecchino, president and CEO of VCNI.

Ryan called his new programming chief officer Giles “a stellar media executive who brings a deep familiarity with our brands and audiences, as well as an unmatched talent for harnessing data to make high-impact programming decisions.”

He added: “Our content leaders know their genres better than anyone and have been integral to building a strong slate for Paramount Plus and growing its audience. Our new structure will enable us to tap into their collective expertise even more effectively, further cementing Paramount Plus as a true super service that delivers the content audiences love, all in one place.” Variety