±±¾©Èü³µpk10

MTV Networks has poached Paul Curtis from Channel 5 to head its

sales house, Viacom Brand Solutions.

Curtis, who is the chief executive of Channel 5 Interactive, will be

responsible for ad sales for MTV UK and Ireland, VH1, Nickelodeon,

Paramount Comedy Channel, all of MTV's UK websites and its digital

channel sales.

MTV is keen for Curtis to create integrated cross-marketing solutions

across all of its channels, as well as other Viacom companies. He will

report to Michiel Bakker, the managing director of MTV Networks UK, and

Jonathan Patrick, the general sales director of MTV Networks Europe.

Bakker said: 'Paul is a major player in the industry, whose creative

ability makes him perfect for this position. He will establish the

business as the sales house that offers the most innovative and

brand-led packages in the UK, across all areas of the Viacom business

and beyond.'

Curtis added: 'There are very few opportunities like the Viacom job that

come up. Apart from the past nine months, all my working life has been

in TV, and MTV's brands are very strong ones.'

Curtis will join Viacom in June. Nick Bampton, the sales director of

Channel 5 Interactive, will take over Curtis's responsibilities, while

Channel 5's deputy chief executive, Nick Milligan, will take a more

active role in managing the business.

Curtis has been at Channel 5 since it launched in 1997.

Viacom Brand Solutions was formally launched on 1 January, after sales

for Nickelodeon and Paramount were brought in-house from Sky.