CBS Global Distribution Head Armando Nunez Promoted in Wake of Leslie Moonves’ Exit

Armando Nunez has received a promotion and CBS Vision head David Poltrack is retiring in the wake of Leslie Moonves’ exit from CBS.

Nunez on Tuesday was named president and CEO for the CBS Global Distribution Group and chief content licensing officer for CBS Corp. In another move atop CBS’ executive ranks, CBS chief research officer and president of CBS Vision Poltrack announced he is ending a 50-year career in research at CBS as he gets set to retire June 30, 2019.

The latest executive shuffle was unveiled by Joe Ianniello, president and acting CEO of CBS, whose promotion of Nunez comes as he streamlines CBS’ content licensing, domestic syndication and international distribution in one content-first division.

“CBS is a global premium content company. This reorganization establishes a focused structure for content monetization of our shows across all platforms, both domestically and internationally, under an accomplished worldwide distribution leader,” Ianniello said in a statement.

The latest leadership change at CBS also underlines the future of the business for the U.S.-based network is in international territories, including cable and digital sales, where Nunez has operated.

Moonves recently left CBS after allegations of sexual misconduct were leveled against him by on-the-record accusers. Ianniello took on the president and acting CEO posts while the board completed a search for a permanent successor to Moonves.

Richard Parsons was also recently named chairman of the CBS board on an interim basis as the CBS board of directors looks to stabilize top management and controlling shareholder and vice chairman Shari Redstone pushes for a possible merger of Viacom and CBS.

Some insiders and Wall Street analysts have speculated that Parsons will eventually be made permanent CEO, then in about two years merge CBS into Viacom, with the combined company being run by Viacom CEO Robert Bakish, while Parsons retires.

Nunez will continue as head of CBS Studios International, which oversees worldwide content and format sales for all CBS programming. In his new role, Nunez will also control content licensing to domestic and international distribution partners across all platforms, including cable, broadcast television and on-demand services.

He will also oversee CBS-owned original content on the main CBS network The CW, CBS All Access, Showtime and non-CBS platforms, as well as a library of more than 10,000 episodes of programming.

Nunez’s promotion follows Paul Franklin’s retirement and Scott Koondel’s launching his own production and distribution company. Franklin was the company’s head of domestic syndication, and Koondel was the previous chief content licensing officer.

Elsewhere, Poltrack joined CBS in 1969 and rose through the ranks to become chief research officer in 2005. “Dave is a legend in the field of research and our business overall,” said Ianniello.

“Back in 2014, Dave came forward and said he wanted to step aside in his 50th year at CBS. With today’s news, I am pleased to say he has reached this remarkable milestone … and what an extraordinary 50 years it’s been,” he added.

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