Scott M. Mills has been named president of\u00a0Viacom’s BET Networks, effective January 1, with Debra L. Lee continuing as chairman and CEO.<\/p>\n
In his new position, Mills will manage the overall strategy and day-to-day operations of BET Networks, including oversight of the brand’s programming, ad sales and digital teams. Michael Armstrong will continue as general manager, reporting to Mills. Lee will focus on BET’s relationships with external stakeholders and communities, and will be an advisor to Mills.<\/p>\n
Mills currently serves as executive VP and chief administrative officer at Viacom, where he is charged with HR, real estate and facilities and security. He previously served as\u00a0president and chief operating officer for BET Networks.<\/p>\n
Lee said: \u201cBET is thriving as the number one network for African-American audiences, and we continue to see strong growth in ratings, share and social engagement. I have spent more than 20 years leading this incredible enterprise and I am so proud of the BET team and all that we have accomplished. As I look to the future, I believe it is the right time to take a step back from day-to-day responsibilities at BET. I look forward to working closely with Scott, Michael, our many talented people\u2014and very importantly, BET\u2019s communities and external stakeholders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mills noted: \u201cBET has consistently produced exciting, thought-provoking content, shaping culture and conversation with African Americans and young audiences around the world. I am honored to work alongside Debi, Michael and the incredible team at BET as we accelerate the network\u2019s evolution across film, digital and live experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bob Bakish, the president and CEO of Viacom, added: \u201cIn her two decades at the helm of BET Networks, Debi has built BET into a truly global entertainment powerhouse, bringing this dominant African-American brand to more than 60 countries and 125 million households. Her vision and leadership, unmatched intuition for what audiences want, and ability to attract and foster top talent\u2014both behind and in front of the camera\u2014have been pivotal to this success. We\u2019re grateful that we will continue to benefit from Debi\u2019s experience and insights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bakish continued: \u201cScott is a proven leader who has made exceptional contributions to Viacom and BET for more than 20 years. His strong relationships across the industry\u2014which were instrumental in securing our recent cross-house deal with Tyler Perry\u2014as well as his track record of success initiating innovative creative ventures, including BET Experience, make him the right person for this role as we continue to extend this brand across platforms and markets around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Scott M. Mills has been named president of\u00a0Viacom’s BET Networks, effective January 1, with Debra L. Lee continuing as chairman and CEO.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":479,"featured_media":8394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[1320,1568,1569,557],"class_list":["post-8393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-top-stories","tag-bet-networks","tag-debra-l-lee","tag-scott-m-mills","tag-viacom"],"yoast_head":"\n