Amazon has reportedly lured longtime digital executive Kelly Day away from ViacomCBS International to the newly created position of VP of Prime Video International. Day begins her new position in January, reporting to Mike Hopkins, SVP of Prime Video and Amazon Studios.
Formerly president of Viacom Digital Studios, Day is credited with upgrading the media giant’s digital content and distribution. Under her leadership, VDS created and distributed thousands of hours of premium digital content across Viacom’s global entertainment brands including MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.
During her ViacomCBS tenure, Day spearheaded the acquisitions of both Awesomeness TV and VidCon, an annual festival and conference for online video expanded to Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Mexico and London.
In a major management shakeup underscoring the importance of streaming video to its future, ViacomCBS Oct. 20 disclosed a new leadership structure for its global free (ad-supported) and pay streaming services. Tom Ryan, currently CEO of Pluto TV, will assume the role of president/CEO of ViacomCBS Streaming, a new unit overseeing CBS All Access, which will relaunch as Paramount+ in early 2021, and Pluto TV.
The promotion means that Marc DeBevoise, chief digital officer of ViacomCBS, and president/CEO of ViacomCBS Digital, will step down and serve in an advisory capacity for the remainder of 2020. DeBevoise, who previously served as president/COO of CBS Interactive since 2016, was instrumental in the launch of CBS All Access, including original series “Star Trek: Discovery,” among others.
Tom Ryan
Ryan, who helped launch ad-supported VOD platform Pluto TV in 2014, will be tasked with overseeing the transformation of CBS All Access into Paramount+, working closely with the team on programming strategy, platform development and marketing for the enhanced streaming service. Ryan will partner with the ViacomCBS Content Council to accelerate a franchise-driven content strategy across the company’s streaming ecosystem, formalizing the role of ViacomCBS’s studios as multiplatform content providers. This will maximize the deployment of both IP and talent relationships across ViacomCBS’s streaming and other platforms.
Kelly Day, COO of ViacomCBS Networks International, will take on an expanded role as president of streaming of VCNI, overseeing all non-U.S. digital and streaming platforms in addition to her COO responsibilities. She will work with Ryan and David Lynn, president/ CEO of VCNI, on ViacomCBS’s international streaming expansion, including the debut of Paramount+ in Australia, Latin America and the Nordics in 2021, as well as the ongoing international rollout of Pluto TV.
Kelly Day
As a result, Pierluigi Gazzolo will step down from his position as president of streaming and studios at VCNI, to pursue other interests.
“As we plan for the launch of Paramount+, bringing together the leaders of our streaming platforms to create a unified global organization will enable us to execute a holistic strategy across both free and pay,” Bob Bakish, president/CEO of ViacomCBS, said in a statement. Bakish called Ryan a “pioneering streaming executive” who has demonstrated “extraordinary talent” in creating a differentiated, consumer-centric streaming video service.
Bakish credited DeBevoise and Gazzolo for their contributions to ViacomCBS’s success — adding the two had helped set the course for the company’s digital businesses and laid a strong foundation for its next phase of streaming strategy.
As CEO of Pluto TV, Ryan helped the service reach 33 million monthly active users globally. He guided the service through its $330 million acquisition by Viacom in January 2019. Earlier in his career, Ryan served as CEO of Threadless, an online art community and e-commerce company, from 2008 to 2012. Previously he was SVP of digital strategy and business development at EMI Music and was part of the early team at Virgin Mobile USA. He also co-founded Cductive, a pioneering online music service that merged with eMusic in 1999.
Day has served as COO of VCNI since March 2020. Prior to that, she served as president of Viacom Digital Studios (VDS) since November 2017, overseeing Viacom’s digital strategy, including the expansion of Viacom’s original programming across its online video and social media platforms. She previously served as the chief business officer and chief digital officer of multi-platform media company Awesomeness, where she was responsible for international expansion, global distribution strategies and revenue across television, mobile and OTT providers, also driving the company’s product and technology investments.
ViacomCBS’ international networks division March 5 announced the appointment of Kelly Day to chief operating officer, reporting to David Lynn, CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International.
Formerly president of Viacom Digital Studios, Day is credited with upgrading the media giant’s digital content and distribution. Under her leadership, VDS created and distributed thousands of hours of premium digital content across Viacom’s global entertainment brands including MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.
Viacom in 2019 generated nearly 30 billion video views and 49 billion minutes watched, up 32% and 75%, respectively, from 2018.
Day spearheaded the acquisitions of both Awesomeness TV and VidCon, an annual festival and conference for online video expanded to Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Mexico and London.
“Kelly has an outstanding track record in building digital businesses and her expertise will be crucial in driving forward our transition to becoming a more digitally led operation,” Lynn said in a statement.
As COO, Day will primarily be tasked with working with key stakeholders on accelerating the digital transformation of VCNI’s business following the ViacomCBS merger, strengthening the company’s digital and streaming operations.
She will have direct responsibility for some lines of business, including Viacom Digital Studios International (VDSi) and the company’s Location-Based Experiences and Events, as well as oversight of many of VCNI’s strategic service functions such as finance and business intelligence, legal affairs, strategy and operations.
As a result of Kay’s appointment, Melody Tan, who has served as COO of VCNI since 2017, will be leaving the company.
“I am extremely grateful to Melody for her many contributions to our ongoing success,” Lynn said. “She has been a key architect of our transformation and a fierce advocate for our brands, our content, and our people throughout her 16-year tenure at ViacomCBS.”
