MTV Taps Sean Atkins as President

NEW YORK/SANTA MONICA: Sean Atkins has been named president of MTV, joining from Discovery Communications, where he was most recently the general manager and executive VP of digital media and strategy. 

Atkins will oversee all creative and business operations for MTV and its sister networks MTV2 and mtvU. He will report to Doug Herzog, the president of the Viacom Music and Entertainment Group. MTV's programming co-heads, Mina Lefevre, executive VP and head of scripted development, and Lauren Dolgen, the head of reality programming and executive VP of series development, will report directly to Atkins.

Prior to joining the digital media team at Discovery, Atkins ran the West Coast for Discovery Studios, a full-service production studio that develops and produces original programming. Atkins joined Discovery Communications from HBO, where he served as senior VP of digital media.

"Sean is smart, creative, passionate and remarkably energized about the sea change at hand in our industry," said Herzog. "The strength of MTV lies in its ability to constantly reinvent, and Sean's forward-thinking, versatile leadership will ensure our brand and business continue to evolve and deliver for our audience."