Viacom Expands Role for Michael D. Armstrong

The BET vice president will now also oversee Paramount Pictures non-premium channels

Viacom has promoted BET executive Michael D. Armstrong to senior vice president and general manager at Paramount Pictures Channels. He has held the same title at BET International for the past five years.

Here's the release:

LONDON/NEW YORK – April 6, 2011 – Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (VIA, VIA.B) today announced that Michael D. Armstrong has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager of BET International and Paramount Pictures Channels.  In this role, Mr. Armstrong will expand his current BET International remit, leading the international strategy and operations of BET, to include the development of non-premium channels of Paramount Pictures in international markets.  Armstrong is based in New York and reports directly to Bob Bakish, President & CEO of VIMN.

“With BET International now under the VIMN umbrella, we’ve brought along one of the best and brightest executives in our organization, and the media industry as a whole, to lead it,” said Mr. Bakish. “Under Mike’s direction we intend to expand the global reach of the BET brand and develop new international channels for Paramount Pictures. We’re excited to have him spearheading these efforts as we strengthen our already significant footprint and scale in the international arena.”

Mr. Armstrong was appointed SVP and General Manager of BET International in May 2006, responsible for the strategy, launch, programming, marketing, advertising and operations of BET in international markets, such as the United Kingdom, Africa and the Middle East.  His oversight includes, but not limited to, licensing BET programs & formats, developing, launching & monetizing BET branded channels and programming blocks, as well as the development of the BET brands on mobile and broadband platforms in concert with the BET Digital group.

Before BET Networks, Mr. Armstrong held several positions at MTV Networks, including Sales Director, International Marketing Partnerships – Global, MTV Networks International, and Vice President of Affiliate Marketing-Music Group for the Affiliate Sales and Marketing division. Mr. Armstrong received an M.B.A. in strategy and marketing from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.S. in marketing from Hampton University. He serves on the national board for NAMIC (National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications) and the Fairchester chapter board for NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), and is Vice Chairman of the Board for the Dance Theatre of Harlem. 

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