ViacomCBS appoints Disney’s Yolanda Cochran to head kids production

Yolanda T. Cochran

ViacomCBS has appointed Yolanda T. Cochran from Disney-owned Freeform to oversee production for its Kids & Family division.

Cochran becomes SVP of live-action long-form production for the ViacomCBS unit, responsible for Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick and Nicktoons, as well as Gen Z-focused brand Awesomeness.

She will be based in Hollywood and reports to Megan Ring, EVP of production at ViacomCBS.

Cochran was most recently VP of production at Freeform, overseeing scripted series such as Good Trouble, The Bold Type, Siren and Motherland: Fort Salem.

In 2016, Cochran produced a documentary short and podcast mini-series entitled Radio Film School: Breaking The Glass, highlighting and seeking solutions to challenges specific to gender and race in film and television.

Cochran was previously EVP of physical production at Warner Bros.’s Alcon Entertainment, working on shows such as Beautiful Creatures and The Book Of Eli. Prior to joining Alcon in 2002, Cochran worked freelance on features including Life and Coyote Ugly.

Ring said: “Yolanda is a talented producer and creative executive known for bringing bold, original stories and important voices to the screen. Her considerable expertise in production will only strengthen our ability to make content that truly resonates with young audiences and families.

“I’m also excited to welcome Yolanda for her incredible advocacy in addressing gender and race inequality in entertainment – leadership that will help reinforce our own commitment to greater diversity and inclusion.”

Earlier this month, former Netflix exec Tara Duncan started her new role as president of Freeform.