• by Wayne Friedman , March 3, 2017

Viacom has named Niels Schuurmans to a new chief marketing officer position for three of its networks -- the soon-to-be Paramount Network (now Spike), TV Land and CMT.

Schuurmans, a 25-year veteran of Viacom, will put initial emphasis on re-branding Spike as Paramount Network, oversee all cross-network marketing initiatives for Spike, TV Land, and CMT, as well as  working with the individual networks’ marketing teams.

He will report to Kevin Kay, president, Spike TV, TV Land, and CMT.

Since January 2014, Schuurmans has been chief creative officer/EVP of creative and branded content for the Viacom Velocity, Viacom’s branded content unit.

He was responsible for integrated marketing creative content across all the Viacom brands and platforms -- including MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Spike, CMT, Logo and TV Land.

Schuurmans started at Viacom's Nickelodeon, where he led the marketing development for Nick franchises, including “The Big Help,” “SlimeTime LIVE,” “U-Pick Live,” “SNICK” and many others.  He also worked on theatrical movies for Nickelodeon franchises -- “Rugrats,” the “Wild Thornberry” movies and “Spongebob’s.”