ViacomCBS names Dan Cohen as new Chairman of Global Distribution

ViacomCBS and its portfolio of brands

It seems the executives over at ViacomCBS are continuing to share the spotlight this week. Dan Cohen has been announced to replace Armando Nuñez as the company’s Chairman of Global Distribution and Chief Content Licensing Officer. According to Variety, Cohen will be assuming the title in June of this year with Nuñez remaining as a consultant. Nuñez and Cohen have been working together to unite the company’s licensing and distribution teams since the merger of Viacom and CBS in late 2019. “Working side by side with Dan, that process has gone faster than expected and is now complete,” Nuñez said. “We are well-positioned wherever this rapidly evolving media landscape takes us, and I can’t think of anyone better to lead us forward.”

ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish showed his gratitude toward Nuñez, saying, “Thanks to Armando’s exceptional leadership, the critical work to unify our global licensing and distribution operations is complete, and the team is moving forward with a comprehensive strategy for the future.”

As chairman, Cohen will oversee global content sales across CBS, CBS All Access, Showtime, The CW and Paramount Pictures. He will also be in charge of home entertainment and licensing for the film libraries of both CBS and Paramount. That is an enormous amount of content, totalling nearly four thousand films and 140,000 television episodes and counting. “We’ve built a world-class team and have a treasure trove of quality content,” Cohen said, “I couldn’t be more excited to lead this group into the future.”

Nuñez reached out to those involved with the transition, expressing confidence in his successor. “We have the right people in place, and we have come up with the right strategy, Nuñez said in the staff memo. “We also have the right person to lead us forward... I’m confident Dan will lead this group to outstanding heights.”

Nuñez has been with the company for the past twenty one years - long enough to see Star Trek’s television and film distribution rights change hands multiple times. In a message to the staff, Nuñez remarked, “How many execs can say they worked on integrating CBS and Paramount in 2004…splitting them apart in 2005…and putting it back together again in 2020…Thank you to every one of our employees for the role you will play going forward.” Nuñez concluded his message by simply saying,  “Take it away, Dan!”