MTV Development Head Eli Lehrer Exits, Will Be Replaced by VH1’s Lily Neumeyer

There’s another shuffling of the deck chairs at MTV.

Set to exit the Viacom-owned cable network is head of development Eli Lehrer, with VH1’s Lily Neumeyer expanding her role to oversee both channels, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

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Lehrer was promoted by MTV’s Nina Diaz in December to oversee development, with Neumeyer upped to the same role at VH1. Lehrer also was charged with overseeing MTV2, and announced the net’s development slate in January. Sources note the split was amicable. Lehrer will not be replaced as exec vp at MTV2, with Diaz and Neumeyer now overseeing the cabler, which will be overseen by MTV, VH1 and Logo president Chris McCarthy as his star continues to rise at Viacom. Sources note that MTV2 will not be folded at this time, though its current lack of individual leadership certainly signals that it is not the priority it once was under Lehrer.

The move marks the latest restructuring under McCarthy, who now has one unified development team for both MTV and VH1. Neumeyer will report to Diaz, who heads unscripted for both networks under McCarthy. VH1’s Maggie Malina is expected to be promoted to add scripted to her oversight following Mina Lefevre’s exit.

“Lily is among the sharpest development executives in the industry, with the track record to prove it,” said Diaz. “She continues to play a big role in driving VH1’s success and I know she’ll bring the same creativity, passion and results to MTV.”

In her new post, Neumeyer will oversee unscripted for both cable networks. She joined VH1 in July from A&E, where she was vp nonfiction. There, she developed the cabler’s hit Duck Dynasty, as well as Wahlburgers and Nightwatch. The position marks a homecoming for the executive, who began her career at MTV. She developed My Super Sweet 16 — which is being revived for a new season as one of McCarthy’s first moves — as well as Juvies and helped launch MTV Tres.

“I earned my stripes working at MTV so it holds a very special place in my heart. Under Chris’ leadership, the sky’s the limit in terms of where we can go. I can’t wait to work with Nina and our incredible team to help build on MTV’s legacy of groundbreaking unscripted programming while continuing to bolster VH1’s slate of hits,” said Neumeyer.

For her part, Diaz was upped in November to help fill the void created by Michael Klein’s departure following a six-month run as head of originals.