MTV Networks Group President Judith McGrath was yesterday promoted to the position of Chairman and Chief Exec, taking over from Tom Freston who himself was promoted to the job of Co-chief Operating Officer of parent company Viacom last month following the departure Mel Karmazin, who allegedly fell out with Chairman and Chief Executive Viacom Sumner Redstone - are you keeping up with all this?
McGrath's new job will see her take responsibility for all the channels in the MTV group - which includes all those with MTV in their name plus VH1, Comedy Central, CMT and Nickelodeon. Confirming her appointment she said she was "flattered, nervous, crazed and thrilled".
Mark Rosenthal, the current President and Chief Operating Officer of MTV Networks, an MTV veteran of 22 years and the leading contender for the top job, promptly resigned after McGrath's appointment. Herb Scannell, another MTV top exec who had also been in the running for the job, will stay with the company and take over McGrath's President role. Phew.