ViacomCBS Reorganizes Core Leadership TeamViacomCBS Reorganizes Core Leadership Team

ViacomCBS has reorganized its executive lineup.

The reorganization will simplify ViacomCBS Networks International into two brand groups and three pan-regional management hubs.

Kerry Taylor, currently executive vice president, MTV International and chief marketing officer, VCNI U.K., has been promoted to executive vice president, VCNI Entertainment and Youth Brands. Taylor has been with MTV International since 2007 and has been co-head of MTV International since 2012. 

Jules Borkent has been promoted to executive vice president, VCNI Kids and Family. Borkent has been with Nickelodeon since 2001, having led channel operations and content strategy including programming, acquisitions, originals and digital for Nickelodeon International.

Maria Kyriacou, who most recently served as president, international, ITV Studios, will join the newly expanded division on Feb. 3,  with a new brief as president, ViacomCBS Networks U.K. and Australia, which includes responsibility for Ireland, New Zealand and Israel.

Raffaele Annecchino, current president of the division’s operations across Southern and Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will also take on an expanded role in the new structure, with additional responsibility for the company’s operations in Northern and Eastern Europe and key Asian markets. As president, ViacomCBS Networks Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA), Annecchino will aim to deliver additional growth in European markets through the closer alignment of its operations across the continent as part of an EMEA structure.

JC Acosta will be the third of the division’s senior pan-regional leaders, having recently been promoted to president, ViacomCBS Networks Americas.

Both Borkent and Acosta succeeded Pierluigi Gazzolo, who prior to his recently announced promotion to president of studios and OTT for ViacomCBS Networks International was president, VCNI Americas and executive vice president, 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,” says David Lynn, chief executive officer and president, ViacomCBS. “With Maria joining and with newly expanded roles for Raffaele, JC, Pier, Kerry and Jules, we have an exceptional leadership team in place and a simplified structure that allows us to be more tightly focused on seeking out the most attractive opportunities to license our brands, content and IP in the highest value and fastest growing international markets, with a particular focus on accelerating our streaming strategy.”

As a result of these regional changes, Mark Whitehead, president and managing director, VCNI Asia Pacific, will be leaving the company, at the end of the month.