YouTube Names Viacom Alum Kurt Patat Head of Consumer and Entertainment Communications

YouTube has named Viacom alum Kurt Patat its global head of consumer and entertainment communications, the company announced on Monday.

In his new role, Patat will oversee the consumer, music, creator and YouTube Originals communications teams and will direct all communications strategies and campaigns for YouTube’s premium and ad-supported entertainment content, including original series, events, movies and the recently launched YouTube Music service.

He most recently served as senior vice president of communications at Viacom, where he oversaw corporate communications and media relations for Paramount Network and CMT. Prior to joining Viacom, he led consumer media relations for AOL.

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Based out of YouTube’s Los Angeles office, Patat will report directly to Chris Dale, YouTube’s global head of communications and public affairs.

“Kurt is a proven leader who possesses the creativity, strategic vision and unique experience across original entertainment, music and consumer communications,” Dale said in an internal memo announcing the hire. “Kurt went through our typically rigorous interview process and impressed everyone he met, including many of you. I have no doubt he will be a great fit into our unique, dynamic and hard-working culture.”

Read Dale’s full memo below.

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Team,

Following up on my last email about new hires, I am super excited to announce that Kurt Patat will be joining the team as our new Global Head of YouTube Entertainment and Consumer Communications, overseeing our consumer, music, creator and YouTube Originals communications teams. As I shared with you, Kurt joins us from Viacom where he drove communications at MTV, Logo and most recently as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for Paramount Network and CMT. Kurt is a proven leader who possesses the creativity, strategic vision and unique experience across original entertainment, music and consumer communications. Kurt went through our typically rigorous interview process and impressed everyone he met, including many of you. I have no doubt he will be a great fit into our unique, dynamic and hard-working culture.

Kurt is joining at just the right time:

• Our YouTube Originals had an incredible year: We’ve expanded YouTube Premium to 29 countries, launched over 50 scripted and unscripted shows, collected 8 Emmy nominations and over 30 industry awards. 2019 will usher in even more YouTube Originals as we transition more of the slate in front of the paywall for fans around the world.
• YouTube Music is on fire. We launched YouTube Music in 29 countries and grew our footprint by 4X. We’re working closer than ever with our industry partners to provide new ways for artists and songwriters to connect with a global audience, obtain recognition for their work, and make money. We’ve demonstrated direct to consumer is the future with features like Premieres which has redefined the traditional music video drop, turning debuts into global, communal events. Nearly 1M people stopped what they were doing and watched Ariana Grande’s YT Premiere ‘thank u, next’ together.
• Our creators are at the heart of everything we do and are. We only succeed when they do. I want us to continue to tell stories of successful YouTubers…whether they started on YouTube first (Liza Koshy, etc..), or are growing a significant presence on our platform (Jimmy Fallon is on track to be the first Late Show to hit 20M subs!). Across the board we are investing in their success on YouTube like never, both from advertising and by building new ways to make money like Memberships, Super Chat and Merch.
• Finally, I want to make sure that consumer verticals like Fashion, Beauty and Sports among many others continue to get the attention they deserve as their collective presence grows on YouTube.

Kurt will work closely with everyone across this team and the global organization to ensure we build off of this momentum.

Fasten your seatbelts, because Kurt’s first day is today, January 7. He will be based in our LA Office in Playa Vista.

Finally, I want to thank each and everyone of you for your patience as we’ve conducted this search. This is a critical role at a critical moment — a role that required we take the necessary time to find the right leader. I am confident that in Kurt, we have found just that.

Please join me in welcoming Kurt to the team.

Chris