Gazzolo bags VIMN Americas top job

Viacom International Media Networks’ COO Pierluigi Gazzolo has been named president of the US media giant’s Americas arm.

He has been interim managing director of VIMN Americas since January, when previous incumbent Sofia Ioannou exited.

He is now responsible for Viacom operations across Latin America, South America and Canada, reporting to VIMN president and CEO Bob Bakish.

His appointment on Friday came as Paramount Channel launched in the region for the first time, and Gazzolo has been tasked with expanding VIMN’s networks footprint across the regions.

He will also increase investment in programming and oversee the roll-out of multiplatform products such as the Nick App and OTT service My Nick Jr.

Gazzolo will also his role as brand lead for Nickelodeon outside of the US, with centralised programming, marketing, creative, consumer products and international programme sales teams reporting in to him.

However, he has dropped the VIMN COO role. A search for his replacement is underway.

“Pier has been an outstanding leader within our business for a number of years, and I’m thrilled he will now be focusing his talent and experience on the vitally important role of overseeing the Americas’ business full-time,” said Bakish.

“Prior to becoming COO, he was instrumental in establishing our business across the Americas and setting it on a path to growth.  He is returning to take charge of a much larger operation that still has significant scope to expand.

Before taking on his COO post in 2011, he had the same post at VIMN and its predecessor, MTV Networks International. Before that, he was president of MTVN Latin America.