VH1 names Levison reality replacement

Viacom network VH1 has named the long-serving Nina L. Diaz its new reality TV chief following the November exit of Susan Levison and Jill Holmes more recently.

Diaz has been promoted from senior VP, East Coast development to executive VP and head of reality at the youth-skewed network.

This comes after Holmes, VH1’s EVP of West Coast development, left last week to take on a development deal with the network. The pair had assimilated Levison’s duties after she left last year.

Diaz joined VH1 in 2014, and has since developed shows such as Love and Hip Hop and Mob Wives, and the upcoming America’s Next Top Model reboot.

She will now report to VH1 president Chris McCarthy, who said: “Very few people have Nina’s talent and instincts to consistently develop shows that not only reflect culture, but also define it.”

VH1 was extensively impacted last year by Viacom’s company-wide restructuring and cost-saving strategies, with McCarthy taking over as channel chief from Tom Calderone one example of top-level tinkering.

“VH1 is the destination for pop culture and I couldn’t be more passionate and enthusiastic about the brand and our projects,” said Diaz. “Chris has brought so much to the network and I am incredibly fortunate to work with such a bold, dynamic leader.