Viacom Inc. upped four senior vice presidents to executive VP, including longtime communications guru Carl Folta.
Folta -- who joined Viacom in 1994 after a 10-year stint with Paramount Communications Inc. -- had been senior VP of corporate relations.
As executive VP of corporate relations, Folta will continue to be responsible for Viacom's overall communications activities, both internal and external, as well as the coordination of communications at the company’s operations, which include CBS, MTV Networks, Black Entertainment Television, Paramount Pictures, Viacom Outdoor and Infinity Broadcasting Corp.
He serves the global media and entertainment giant as its chief spokesperson, responsible for all financial press. He also oversees the company’s media-relations activities for industry issues and public affairs, including regulatory, legislative and legal issues. In addition, Folta manages Viacom’s corporate-philanthropy, public-affairs and corporate-events functions.
Also promoted were executive VP of government relations Carol Melton, executive VP of human resources and administration William Roskin and executive VP of investor relations Martin Shea.
“I am extremely pleased to announce the promotions of these four terrific executives, each of whom has played a critical role in Viacom’s growth and success over the past decade,” chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone said in a prepared statement.
“They are each highly regarded in their respective disciplines and have made important contributions not only to Viacom, but also to the media and entertainment industry as a whole,” he added.
