ViacomCBS has announced that George Cheeks has been appointed president and chief executive officer of CBS Entertainment Group, effective March 23. He succeeds Joe Ianniello, chairman and chief executive officer, CBS, who will be leaving the company. Ianniello will work with ViacomCBS to ensure a smooth transition.

“I am incredibly honored to join the stellar CBS team and help lead these incredible brands forward,” says Cheeks. “From news to sports to entertainment, CBS sets the standard, and I look forward to building on this tremendous foundation as we find new and innovative ways to deliver CBS to audiences worldwide.”

Cheeks joins ViacomCBS from NBCUniversal, where he most recently served as vice chairman, NBCUniversal Content Studios. Previously, he served as co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, where he was jointly responsible for the network’s primetime, late night and scripted daytime programming. Cheeks will report to Bob Bakish, president and chief executive officer, ViacomCBS.

“I am thrilled to welcome George back to the family at this exciting moment for ViacomCBS,” says Bakish. “Throughout his career, George has built broad experience in broadcast and studio operations and brings a unique mix of skills – combining deep commercial expertise and industry relationships with strong creative and programming capabilities. With his finger on the pulse of culture and change and his strong grasp of strategy, brands, audiences and content monetization, George will help CBS build on its position as the most-watched broadcast network and drive results across the entire CBS portfolio. I’m grateful to Joe for his many contributions to CBS and for the meaningful role he has played in bringing the CBS and Viacom teams together. Thanks in no small part to his efforts, the CBS brand has a strong and loyal following across a variety of platforms – positioning it well for this important next chapter. The Board and I wish Joe every success in his future endeavors.”