Oct 08 2019 NEW YORK (October 8, 2019) -Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) and CBS (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) today jointly announced that Doretha (DeDe) Lea has been named Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy and Government Relations of ViacomCBS, effective upon closing of the proposed merger between Viacom and CBS.
In her role, Lea will oversee all government affairs and public policy work for the combined company domestically and internationally. She will report to Bob Bakish, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom, who will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of ViacomCBS upon close.
DeDe has been an incredible advocate for Viacom, our audiences and the creative community over the past two decades, said Bakish. She brings unmatched experience, relationships and leadership to this role, and we're thrilled she will serve as the voice of ViacomCBS in Washington and in the highest levels of government around the world.
Lea has served as Executive Vice President, Global Government Affairs of Viacom since 2013, having previously served as Executive Vice President, Government Relations beginning in 2005. Her career at Viacom began in 1997 as its Vice President of Government Relations, and continued as the department's Senior Vice President. Previously, she was Vice President of Government Affairs for Dallas-based television broadcasting company Belo Corporation, and as Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the National Association of Broadcasters.
Lea obtained a J.D. from Georgetown Law, and graduated cum laude from Howard University with a B.A. in Broadcast Management. She currently sits on the boards of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
The proposed merger remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close by the 2019 calendar year end.
About Viacom
Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) creates entertainment experiences that drive conversation and culture around the world. Through television, film, digital media, live events, merchandise and solutions, its brands connect with diverse, young and young at heart audiences in more than 180 countries.
For more information on Viacom and its businesses, visit http://www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following it on Twitter (twitter.com/Viacom), Facebook (facebook.com/Viacom) and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/Viacom).
About CBS
CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) is a mass media company that creates and distributes industry-leading content across a variety of platforms to audiences around the world. The Company has businesses with origins that date back to the dawn of the broadcasting age as well as new ventures that operate on the leading edge of media. CBS owns the most-watched television network in the U.S. and one of the world's largest libraries of entertainment content, making its brand - the Eye - one of the most-recognized in business. The Company's operations span virtually every field of media and entertainment, including cable, publishing, local TV, film and interactive. CBS' businesses include CBS Television Network, The CW (a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), Network 10 Australia, CBS Television Studios, CBS Global Distribution Group, CBS Consumer Products, CBS Home Entertainment, CBS Interactive, CBS All Access, the Company's direct-to-consumer digital streaming subscription service, CBS Sports Network, CBS Films, Showtime Networks, Pop, Smithsonian Networks, Simon & Schuster, CBS Television Stations and CBS Experiences. For more information, go to http://www.cbscorporation.com.
Press Contacts:
Viacom
Alexa Cassanos, Vice President, Corporate Communications
(212) 846-6197
alexa.cassanos@viacom.com
CBS
Rick McCabe, Vice President, Corporate Communications
(212) 975-2602
rick.mccabe@cbs.com
Important Information About the Proposed Merger Between CBS and Viacom and Where To Find It
In connection with the proposed merger between CBS Corporation ( CBS ) and Viacom Inc. ( Viacom ), CBS will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint consent solicitation statement of CBS and Viacom and that will also constitute a prospectus of CBS. CBS and Viacom may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed merger. This communication is not a substitute for the joint consent solicitation statement/prospectus or registration statement or any other document which CBS or Viacom may file with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF CBS AND VIACOM ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE JOINT CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT / PROSPECTUS, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the registration statement on Form S-4 (when available), which will include the joint consent solicitation statement / prospectus, and other documents filed with the SEC by CBS and Viacom through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by contacting the investor relations department of CBS ( 1-212-975-4321 or 1-877-227-0787; investorrelations@CBS.com) or Viacom ( 1-212-846-6700 or 1-800-516-4399; investor.relations@Viacom.com).
Participants in the Solicitation
CBS and Viacom and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of consents in respect of the proposed merger. Information regarding CBS' directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct i
