Viacom Promotes Schireson to Chief Data Officer

In the US, broadcast and cable company Viacom has promoted Kern Schireson to the newly created position of EVP and Chief Data Officer, responsible for expanding data capabilities across TV, theatrical, events, consumer products and digital business units.

Schireson (pictured) previously served as Viacom's EVP of Data Strategy and Consumer Intelligence, overseeing the Strategic Insights and Research team, as well as the Audience Science, Data Strategy, and Corporate Business Development teams. He joined the company in 2014 from Schireson Associates, a data science and analytics firm he founded in 2003.

In his new role, reporting to CFO Wade Davis, Schireson will work closely with the company's leadership team to implement a variety of data-driven initiatives. These include extending Vantage, Viacom's data-driven ad platform, across the global TV marketplace; accelerating the growth of advanced data science at Paramount; building a foundation to incorporate new uses of data in the company's Events and Consumer Products businesses; and forging data-based partnerships across the digital and social media sectors.

Bob Bakish, President and CEO, comments: 'As we look to the future of Viacom, it is absolutely clear that our deep data and analysis expertise will play a critical role in growing our company and unlocking the full power of our incredible portfolio. Kern has assembled a consumer intelligence team that is second to none in the media and entertainment industry, and I could not be more excited by the opportunity to leverage our unique capabilities across each of our brands'.

Web site: www.viacom.com .