Offman to lead Comedy Central globally

Viacom International Media Networks has promoted UK-based executive Jill Offman to lead its Comedy Central network internationally.

In her new role as senior VP, comedy for VIMN, she will report to Bob Bakish, VIMN’s president and CEO, and remain based in London.

Offman will also remain senior VP and managing director of Comedy Central UK, which is a BSKyB and VIMN joint venture. In that role, she’ll continue to report into VIMN’s managing director for UK, Australia, Russia and CEE Dave Lynn.

Her new role will now see her responsible for the positioning of Comedy Central and its associated brands across more than 70 territories outside the US.

Leading VIMN comedy execs in its core regions – UK, Australia, Russia and Central and Eastern Europe; Northern Europe; Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa; Asia; and the Americas will now report into Offman along with their local managing directors.

VIMN CEO Bakish said: “Comedy Central has enjoyed extraordinary international growth in the last few years, and Jill has contributed significantly to the brand’s success by establishing Comedy Central UK as one of the country’s most consistently popular pay TV services.

“With oversight of our international content strategy for our comedy channels and a keen understanding of how humor differs from market to market, Jill is best placed to lead the next phase of Comedy Central’s development as the only truly international comedy network.”

Offman joined VIMN (then MTV Networks International) in 2008 as general manager of Paramount Comedy, which was relaunched as Comedy Central UK a year later. last year, she added the role of senior VP, international content, responsible for commissioning scripted and non-scripted content for Comedy Central internationally.