Viacom promotes MTV pair

Shapiro, Cheeks named co-general counsel

By VARIETY STAFF, VARIETY STAFF

Viacom has promoted Andra Shapiro and George Cheeks to the newly created positions of executive veep business affairs and co-general counsel for MTV Networks.

Duo had essentially been serving in the general counsel role after the departure several months ago of David Sussman.

The business and legal department will run under a dual operating structure.

MTVN Kids and Family Group, MTVN International, MTVN Content Distribution and Marketing, and the MTVN Litigation and Intellectual Property Group will fall to Shapiro.

MTVN Music, Logo and Films Group, the MTVN Entertainment Group, MTVN Global Digital Media and MTVN Music Strategy Group will be overseen by Cheeks.

Pair will jointly oversee Music and Media Licensing and Employment and Labor.

Shapiro and Cheeks will report to MTVN COO Rich Eigendorff.