MTV ups Dolgen, merges development

MTV in the US has combined its east and west coast development teams and promoted a veteran exec to oversee the division in Viacom’s latest restructuring move.

Lauren Dolgen, who has been with MTV for 18 years, becomes head of reality programming and exec VP of series development. She will be based in Santa Monica, reporting to Susanne Daniels, MTV’s president of programming.

Her remit over unscripted previously only included the west coast, and her promotion comes amid a slew of departures from MTV in New York, with the programming team based predominantly in LA from now on.

Elli Hakami, exec VP of current series and programming, is the headline departure. He joined following the 2013 exit of Chris Linn, exec VP of programming and head of production in New York.

Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman revealed earlier this month that staff cuts across the firm’s operations are set to be completed by the end of March and will result in savings of around US$250m per year.

The firm has restructured its advertising department and moved networks including TV Land into its kids’ group, with veterans including Larry Jones and MTV’s Van Toffler leaving the company.