Viacom Names New Head of U.K., Northern & Eastern Europe

LONDON: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has promoted James Currell to the role of executive VP, managing director of VIMN UK, Northern and Eastern Europe.

Currell has been serving as COO, with those responsibilities to be taken over by Channel 5’s Paul Dunthorne. Currell will have management oversight of all of Viacom’s media networks and related businesses in 33 European countries. Currell will report to David Lynn, whom he replaces at the top of Viacom’s U.K.-led operations, following Lynn’s promotion to become president and CEO of VIMN.

Lynn commented: “James has been integral to the stellar growth of our operations managed out of the U.K., 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 caliber 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 added: “Viacom has transformed its U.K. 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.”