Chris McCarthy has been chosen as the new general manger of VH1, the network announced Wednesday.
McCarthy will oversee all creative and business functions for the pop culture brand. He will report to Doug Herzog, President of the Viacom Music and Entertainment Group.
“Chris is a multi-talented executive with a proven ability to build brands and drive viewership across very different demos,” Herzog said in a statement. “He’s a forward-thinking leader for this new era in media and a terrific fit for VH1, a beloved brand with a strong team and a unique place in pop culture.”
McCarthy most recently oversaw MTV2 and Logo, driving both brands to reach all-time highs. Both networks are currently riding eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year ratings growth, and each is achieving its highest-rated and most-watched year ever in 2015.
McCarthy was named General Manager of MTV2 in 2010 by Stephen Friedman, president of MTV. Upon taking leadership of the network, he quickly moved to reposition it as a male-targeted Millennial brand, launching hits including “Guy Code,” “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out,” “Joking Off” and “Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne.”
McCarthy took over Logo TV in 2014 and drove the network to double-digit gains in viewership, digital reach and revenue that year. He has expanded the brand with new original series, events and a documentary division, which earned the network its first Emmy.
Previously, McCarthy served as Executive Vice President for MTV, overseeing strategy, planning and tentpole events. McCarthy began his career at Viacom in marketing at mtvU before being named general manager for the college network.
McCarthy brought the network the companion series “Cucumber” and “Banana,” from Russell T. Davies (“Queer as Folk,” “Dr. Who”), and has built on the success of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which recently concluded one of its most watched seasons to date.