Paramount Network president Kevin Kay will leave his position in the latest Viacom executive shakeup.
Kent Alterman will add oversight of the Paramount Network as president of Viacom’s Comedy Central, Paramount Network and TV Land Group, the company announced Thursday.
In another move, MTV, VH1 and Logo president Chris McCarthy will add day-to-day operations of CMT to his duties, according to Viacom. Alterman and McCarthy will continue to report to CEO Bob Bakish.
“These changes mark the next step in the ongoing evolution of our company as we continue to ensure we’re making the most of our great assets and resources, and operating as nimbly and efficiently as we can,” said Bakish in a statement. “Kent and Chris have been driving forces behind Viacom’s flagship strategy, re-energizing and growing two of our most iconic brands, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
During his tenure at Viacom, Kay oversaw the launch of several Nickelodeon hits such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Kenan & Kel. At Spike, Kay launched The Ultimate Fighter and Lip Sync Battle before overseeing the transition of the network from Spike to the Paramount Network this past January.
“Over the course of his career at Viacom, Kevin’s creative vision and gift for telling great stories have made a lasting impact,” Bakish said in a statement. “Thanks to the efforts of Kevin and his team, we have successfully established Paramount Network as a home for premium content, and TV Land and CMT continue to be dominant forces in the audiences they serve. I’m so grateful for the many contributions they have made in evolving and strengthening these world-class brands for their next chapter.”
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