ViacomCBS taps KordaMentha’s Jarrod Villani to help run local ops

Network Ten’s parent company ViacomCBS has hired Jarrod Villani to help run its operations in Australia and New Zealand.

ViacomCBS, parent company of Network Ten, has appointed Jarrod Villani chief operating and commercial officer for Australia and New Zealand. Picture: Andy Baker.

ViacomCBS, owner of commercial television broadcaster Network Ten, has tapped Jarrod Villani from advisory and investment firm KordaMentha to help run its local operations.

Mr Villani, who has been at KordaMentha for nearly eight years, has been appointed chief operating and commercial officer of ViacomCBS in Australia and New Zealand.

He will be responsible for the company’s commercial activities and operations in both markets, alongside chief content officer and executive vice president Beverley McGarvey.

Maria Kyriacou, president of ViacomCBS Networks International’s operations in Australia, Israel and the UK, said Mr Villani is a “highly qualified commercial leader with extensive experience in organisational transformation and stakeholder management”.

Network Ten’s chief content officer and executive vice president Beverley McGarvey. Picture: Adam Yip

“Jarrod’s broad commercial knowledge coupled with Beverley’s experience as an Australian media and creative leader ensures the business remains a unique and powerful media group,” she said in a statement.

Ms McGarvey was promoted in March following the departure of Ten chief executive Paul Anderson, who hasn‘t been replaced. At the same time, ViacomCBS appointed KordaMentha partner Henriette Rothschild as its interim chief transformation officer.

During the year, Ms McGarvey led the integration of ViacomCBS’s local operations, including its sales team.

In August, Ten axed more staff including Studio 10’s Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Natarsha Belling, plus weatherman Tim Bailey as part of further job cuts across its news operations. The move came just months after Ten closed its news and entertainment website 10 Daily, which resulted in staff lay-offs.

ViacomCBS said its chief sales officer Rod Prosser will work closely with Ms McGarvey and Mr Villani to further strengthen its revenue growth and strategy.

Most recently, Mr Villani was boss of KordaMentha’s restructuring team in Queensland and Brisbane office.

Mr Villani, who will commence his new role early next year, and Ms McGarvey will both report to Ms Kyriacou.