Currell, who played a leading role in planning and executing Viacom’s acquisition of Channel 5 Broadcasting in September 2014, will report to David Lynn, who was recently named President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VIMN, and will be responsible for management oversight and business operations of all of Viacom’s media networks and related businesses in 33 European countries, including the UK, which reach a total of 86 million households.
Currell has served as Chief Operating Officer for VIMN for Northern And Eastern Europe since 2012, with responsibilities for Viacom's brands, including Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. He has played a crucial role in driving VIMN’s pan-regional operations across Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and MTV where he grew revenues and improved profitability in mature and emerging markets, and has overseen a variety of centralised functions within VIMN’s operations managed out of the UK, including strategy, production, business and legal affairs, finance, corporate communications, human resources and research.
Lynn said: “James has been integral to the stellar growth of our operations managed out of the UK, both before and after our acquisition of Channel 5. He’s relentlessly strategic and inquisitive and has a fine understanding of the different needs of all our brands; I couldn’t be happier to have an executive of his calibre to promote from within and I look forward to working with him and Paul to continue developing the exciting momentum we’ve built in our business.”
Currell said: “Viacom has transformed its UK presence and grown its footprint across Europe by increasing investment in quality local content and adopting an innovative approach to partnership and to the way our brands work together. I’m excited by the growth opportunities that exist in mature and emerging European markets, given Viacom’s scale and the enduring influence of our brands on TV and, increasingly, online.”
The appointments follows a string of personnel changes at Viacom, including longtime Viacom Kids/Nickelodeon exec Sarah Levy becoming COO of Viacom’s global entertainment group, and former Foxtel GM Ben Cox being named Vice President (VP) and GM (General Manager) of Nickelodeon Networks Australia and New Zealand.
Viacom has grown significantly in recent years, acquiring Channel 5 in 2014 and increasing annual profits in the UK by an average of 15% each year since 2010. Viacom‘s UK pay TV channels – including MTV and Nickelodeon – accounted for one in every six hours of UK commercial TV watched by 16- to 34-year-olds last year.
Sources: Kidscreen, Realscreen, Digital TV Europe, TBI Vision. Huge thanks to RegularCapital for the news!
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