Another BBCWW Asia exec defects to Viacom

Pierre Cheung has been hired as Viacom’s China chief, joining from BBC Worldwide and reporting to Mark Whitehead, another ex-BBC exec that left the company for Viacom.

As senior VP and general manager of Viacom International Media Networks for Greater China, Cheung will oversee the its services and programming in China and develop a long-term growth plan for the US company in the country.

At Worldwide, the commercial arm of UK pubcaster the BBC, Cheung was GM for Greater China. He left last month, but it was not known where he was going. Viacom confirmed it has recruited Cheung today, and he will start in his new Beijing-based role next week.

At Viacom, he will report to Whitehead, VIMN Asia’s executive VP and managing director. Whitehead also left Worldwide for Viacom, joining the US company last year.

Whitehead said: “Having worked with Pierre previously, I am confident his tenacity, expertise in the market and strong sales background, will bring many new opportunities in Greater China as he focuses on accelerating the company’s growth strategy in this territory.”