Armando Nuñez to Lead Content Licensing for Combined ViacomCBS

CBS and Viacom have revealed the senior leadership appointments across ViacomCBS’ revenue lines, with Armando Nuñez to serve as chairman of global distribution and chief content licensing officer and David Lynn to oversee the combined company’s international media networks.

Nuñez has served as president and CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group and chief content licensing officer at CBS Corporation, overseeing content licensing of CBS-owned programming to domestic and international distribution partners across all platforms. For ViacomCBS, he will be overseeing all content licensing, including worldwide distribution and domestic syndication, for ViacomCBS-owned programming to third-party platforms.

Lynn has served as president and CEO of Viacom International Media Networks since 2017, overseeing all of Viacom’s media networks and related businesses outside the U.S. The ViacomCBS role will see him with oversight for all international media networks, including Network 10 in Australia.

Dan Cohen, president of worldwide home entertainment and television distribution at Paramount, will serve as president of global content licensing at ViacomCBS, reporting to Nuñez.

Jo Ann Ross, president and chief advertising revenue officer at CBS, will serve as president and chief advertising revenue officer for ViacomCBS domestic advertising sales. Ross will direct all of ViacomCBS’ multiplatform media sales efforts.

John Halley, executive VP and chief operating officer for ad solutions at Viacom, will serve as chief operating officer of advertising revenue and executive VP of advanced marketing solutions, reporting to Ross.

Ray Hopkins, president of television networks distribution for CBS, has been appointed president for U.S. network distribution at ViacomCBS, overseeing the combined company’s broadcast network affiliation distribution agreements, as well as domestic distribution of the company’s owned and operated television stations, channels and networks across all platforms. He will also drive ViacomCBS’ live linear content and on-demand digital distribution deals with third-party platforms.

Pam Kaufman, president of Viacom/Nickelodeon Global Consumer Products, becomes president of global consumer products, responsible for the combined company’s consumer products business, including global oversight of product and business development, licensing, merchandising, retail sales, consumer insights and marketing.

“These appointments mark an important step in the integration of CBS and Viacom,” said Bob Bakish, president and chief executive officer of Viacom, who will serve as president and chief executive officer of ViacomCBS upon close. “The seasoned executives we announced today will capitalize on ViacomCBS’ must-watch programming, iconic library and franchises, as well as its global production capacity to drive important new distribution, content licensing and advertising opportunities all over the world.”

The merger remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by early December.