Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has appointed former Disney SVP and current ITV Studios head Maria Kyriacou as president for UK, Northern and Eastern Europe, with the remit of overseeing all of the conglom’s media networks and related businesses in 33 European countries.
In the UK Viacom operates free-to-air public service broadcast network Channel 5 and streaming services My5, Pluto TV and MTV Play in the UK. In Hungary and Poland meanwhile, the company released streaming service Paramount+. Viacom also runs a TV production outfit Viacom International Studios UK in the region.
There’s no official start date yet for Kyriacou—who is still working as the president of international for London-based prodco ITV Studios. Based in London, she will report to David Lynn, the president and CEO of VIMN. Kyriacou is replacing James Currell, who stepped down from the same role at the start of June this year.
As the president of international at London-based prodco ITV Studios (Love Island, Come Dine With Me), Kyriacou oversaw production business and the company’s worldwide distribution arm ITV Studios Global Entertainment. Since she joined the company in 2010, Kyriacou has launched a network of production hubs worldwide for the prodco. Before joining ITV, Kyriacou worked at The Walt Disney Company as SVP, digital media distribution EMEA, where she was responsible for the company’s digital media sales and distribution strategy.
VIMN has been shuffling around its European management in the last few months and last week the company brought on former Planeta Junior licensing manager Simone Fenu as senior director of licensing and consumer products for Italy and Greece. This past April, former director of content strategy for Disney Channels LatAm German Groba joined VIMN as SVP of its youth & music and kids & family brands in Southern and Western Europe and MENA. The conglom also expanded its third-party production in the region in April by launching new production hubs including Viacom International Studios UK, bringing aboard former Comedy Central EVP Jill Offman to lead that prodco.