Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has announced the appointment of Louise to the newly created role.
Louise is being tasked with driving ratings performance and brand strength for the Nickelodeon channels and Milkshake! on Channel 5, developing world-class British pre-school content, building, continuing to develop the VIMN kids team, and evolving both kids brands to continue to serve and reach their audiences. In her Milkshake! role, Louise will also have a business development remit to work with commercial, consumer products and events teams to expand the brand and ensure best in class activations, in addition to her responsibility to source for development commissioned and acquired content that represents the best of British pre-school.
Alison Bakunowich, SVP and GM Nickelodeon UK and Milkshake!, whom Louise will report to, commented: “Louise has an incredible wealth of experience in the children’s television industry across both the PSB and pay TV sectors, and her expertise in scheduling and channel planning will help us to further drive ratings improvement for both Nickelodeon and Milkshake!.”
Louise will also have a secondary reporting line into Ben Frow, director of programmes, Channel 5.
As director of programming at Disney Channels UK & Ireland, Louise was responsible for leading all strategic, editorial, commercial and operational aspects of content strategy. This included commissioning Goalmouth, First Class Chefs, Art Attack, Furry Friends and Access All Areas, acquisitions including Curious George, Miraculous, Hotel Transylvania and Pokemon, production, programme planning, presentation and media planning for all linear and non-linear services for Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD.
Prior to her six year stint at Disney, Louise worked as head of scheduling, BBC Children’s, where she oversaw content strategy for CBBC, CBeebies, the children’s blocks on BBC One, BBC Two and iPlayer. Before that she was senior manager, programming for Disney Channels UK & Ireland, and channel editor and scheduler at CITV, where she was part of the team that launched the CITV channel.
Louise commented: “I am delighted to be joining Viacom International Media Networks where I will work across both the Nickelodeon and Milkshake! brands to bring much loved content to kids to excite, inspire and entertain them. This brings together my twenty years content and broadcasting experience across the commercial and PSB kids sectors and I can’t wait to join this brilliant team.”
