Viacom Creates Convergent Ad Sales Structure

Viacom ad sales executives will now be able to pitch content involving Stephen Colbert, Kirstie Alley and Jon Taffer across all platforms.

The programmer announced today that it is merging its television, digital and mobile ad sales teams at its music and entertainment networks, with the convergent group now covering sales and integrated marketing opportunities for MTV, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, Spike TV, TV Land and VH1.

"The lines among television, online and mobile aren't just blurring — they've been erased in terms of how our audiences consume and experience content," Jeff Lucas, head of sales for music and entertainment, said in a statement.  "For a client-centric organization like ours, a convergent structure will keep us on the leading edge of marketing innovation and ensure that we continue to create value for advertisers and audiences alike."

As part of the new structure, three executives who had been serving at the vice president level for digital ad sales will assume new roles.

Melanie Dimemmo is now vice president of digital video sales, focusing on video deals across the music and entertainment portfolio. Dimemmo reports to Neil Holt and Sean Moran, executive vice president of ad sales.

Sarah Iooss now will serve as vice president of partnerships and client strategy, responsible for indentifying partnerships with content and platform technology companies. She reports to Elizabeth Herbst-Brady, executive vice president of ad sales strategy.

Sharon Silverstein will now function as vice president of multiplatform studio ad sales out of Los Angeles. She will continue to report to Steve Agase, senior vice president of ad sales, West Coast.

Other executives at the senior vice president and vice president positions will assume responsibility for linear and digital business. Linear and digital account execs report into the same converged supervisors.