ViacomCBS undergoes major management shakeup in Australia, New Zealand
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Joseph O'Halloran
| 11 March 2020

As it gets to grips with the nature of its recently merged structure, ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) has confirmed the resignation of Paul Anderson as CEO of Network 10 and EVP of operations in Australia and New Zealand.

Anderson joined Network 10 in 2003. He was appointed chief financial officer in 2011 and took on the additional role of chief operating officer in 2014. He was appointed CEO in July 2015 and steered the company through its acquisition by CBS Studios International, which was completed in November 2017.

ViacomCBS will not seek a replacement CEO, but instead plans to introduce a new management structure for its combined operations in Australia and New Zealand, with co-leads for the business. Both will report to Maria Kyriacou, President of VCNI’s operations in Australia and the UK. Though his resignation is effective immediately, Anderson has agreed to stay in his role in the interim to help oversee the company’s transition to new management.

“Network 10 has performed very well this year, with 11 consecutive weeks of audience share growth. We want to build on that momentum, while at the same time leveraging the powerful ViacomCBS brands and assets from both a content and revenue perspective,” Kyriacou commented. “I would like to thank Paul for his leadership of Network 10; it is a credit to him and his team that the business has continued to compete and evolve despite the inevitable distractions that have come with recent changes in ownership. I’m grateful for the ongoing support he has offered me to help the business transition to a new management team and structure.”

Anderson added: “The past 17 years at Network 10 have been the best years of my professional life. I have worked with some extraordinary people – both in front of and behind the camera – and have been given some amazing opportunities. Now it’s time for me to try something different and eventually look for new opportunities and experiences.”

In the shake-up, Beverley McGarvey, who is currently chief content officer for Network 10, has been promoted to the new role of chief content officer and EVP, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, giving her responsibility for all content and creative activities related to the company’s networks and digital properties in Australia and New Zealand. ViacomCBS will also recruit a co-lead who will have oversight of all the combined company’s commercial activities and operations in both markets.