NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) today announced the appointment of Alex Berkett to the position of Senior Vice President, Corporate Development. In this role, Berkett will lead the company’s global corporate development and mergers and acquisitions functions. Based in New York, he will report directly to Wade Davis, Chief Financial Officer of Viacom.
As Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Berkett will identify and develop growth opportunities for Viacom and its brands, including partnerships, acquisitions, investments and joint ventures. He will also work closely with senior executives across the company to advise on and lead deal negotiations. Berkett joins Viacom from Townsquare Media, a publicly-held diversified local media company he co-founded in 2010. At Townsquare, he served as Executive Vice President, responsible for corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, investor relations and a variety of other senior functions.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Alex to Viacom, where he will oversee our efforts to forge new partnerships, explore opportunities in innovative new businesses and help advance the company’s strategic goals,” said Davis. “Viacom is committed to continued investment in key areas of growth, and Alex’s deep knowledge of media, strong transactional track record and entrepreneurial background make him the right choice to expand our capabilities in new and exciting ways. Alex is a proven leader and has the skills and experience to hit the ground running.”
Prior to his work at Townsquare, Berkett worked in J.P. Morgan’s Technology, Media & Telecom Investment Banking Group, which he joined following the firm’s acquisition of Bear, Stearns & Co. Berkett spent eleven years in the investment banking division of Bear Stearns, rising to Managing Director, where he focused on merger and acquisition advisory for media and entertainment companies.
About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 165 countries and territories. Viacom's media networks, including Nickelodeon, CMT, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, TV Land, Nick at Nite, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, SPIKE, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Channel 5 (UK), Tr3s, Paramount Channel and VIVA, reach a cumulative 3.2 billion television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.
For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.
