ViacomCBS promotes UK duo

ViacomCBS has promoted a pair of executives in the UK to oversee its digital channels and programme acquisitions.

Ben Frow

ViacomCBS Networks UK is upping Gemma Hewlett to VP of digital channels and Anna-Belen Dunlop to senior director of acquisitions.

Both will report to Ben Frow, who stepped up from director of programmes at ViacomCBS-owned terrestrial Channel 5 to oversee the whole UK business at the end of 2019.

Hewlett will oversee content, planning and scheduling for ViacomCBS’s digital channel portfolio, which is made up of 5Star, 5USA, 5Select, Paramount Network, MTV, MTV Music Pack, Comedy Central, Comedy Central Extra and BET.

Dunlop has been charged with leading the cross-portfolio acquisitions strategy for all ViacomCBS brands in the UK. Her expanded role means that Dunlop adds pay TV channels MTV and Comedy Central to her remit, which spans all free-to-air channels, including Channel 5.

Frow said: “Gemma and Anna-Belen are proven driving forces within our business and I’m delighted with their highly deserved promotions. These are two pivotal roles supporting my expanded brief across the entire UK portfolio and I look forward to working with them even more closely to shape a cohesive programme strategy for VCN UK.”

Hewlett joined ViacomCBS in 2009 and was previously channel director for Channel 5’s digital portfolio. Prior to this, she was channel manager for 5Star and has also held various roles in scheduling across MTV channels.

Dunlop has worked at ViacomCBS since 2015. In her roles as acquisitions director and acquisitions and channel manager she was responsible for leading the Channel 5 acquisitions team. Prior to this, Dunlop held an acquisitions role at Channel 4 and before that managed pay-per-view content for Sky Box Office.