ViacomCBS is shaking up Viacom Digital Studios (VDS) management and has appointed Stefanie Schwartz as its EVP and GM. Schwartz is replacing current president Kelly Day, who is in talks about another senior role at ViacomCBS, although nothing has been finalized, Kidscreen confirmed.
Prior to the promotion, Schwartz was the EVP of strategy and operations at VDS and digital partnerships for Viacom Media Networks. Before joining the Viacom team, she was the SVP of digital and business development at Nickelodeon and held the SVP of digital publishing and operations role, as well as VP positions in production and marketing roles. She’s also worked at Viacom’s MTV network as VP of strategy and business development and was the director of strategy and business development at Viacom before that.
Day has been the president of Viacom Digital Studios since 2017. In November, amid leadership shakeups, it was announced that her role hadn’t changed and she would continue to lead digital content strategy. Before joining Viacom she was the chief business officer at entertainment company AwesomenessTV, which was later acquired by Viacom in 2018. Prior to that, she held the EVP and GM of digital media and commerce and COO of Discovery commerce roles at Discovery.
Viacom also recently bolstered its digital studio with two new hires, bringing in Ashley Kaplan and Luke Wahl with the goal of creating content for Nickelodeon’s YouTube and social channels.
Amid the ViacomCBS merger, which was completed on December 4, the conglom has been shifting a lot of senior exec positions as it sets up its leadership team. This past October, Pam Kaufman, the president of Viacom Nickelodeon consumer products was named the president of global consumer products of ViacomCBS, with global oversight of product and business development, licensing, merchandising, retail sales, consumer insights and marketing. At the same time, the president and CEO of Viacom International Media Networks, David Lynn, took charge of the company’s international media networks, including Australia’s Network 10. President and CEO of Viacom Bob Bakish was tapped as the president and CEO of the combined companies, in August.
In November the companies named the execs for its content and digital teams, with president of Nickelodeon Brian Robbins set to serve as the president of kids and family entertainment for ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks. He will oversee Awesomeness, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Jick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons and Nickeloden Studios.