• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, January 8, 2007

Following a year of executive turnovers, Viacom's MTV Networks Friday laid out its new global digital media executive structure.

Reporting to Mika Salmi, named president of global digital media by MTVN in November, Denmark West will serve as executive vice president of operations, where he will help Salmi oversee the overall digital operations and coordinate digital marketing for MTVN.

"With this team in place, we're poised to deepen our audience connections, reaching them wherever they are, whenever they want, and on whatever screen they choose," Salmi said in a statement. The new structure is clearly part of Viacom's larger efforts to boost its online presence, perceived as lagging behind rivals like News Corp. for at least the last year. Viacom's former CEO Tom Freston was ousted in September, in a move that some observers have said stemmed from the company's floundering online presence. Shortly after Freston left the company, chairman Sumner Redstone publicly complained that Freston had allowed News Corp. to outbid Viacom for social networking site MySpace, which News Corp. purchased for $580 million.

Other executives named to new positions Friday include Nicholas Lehman, who is assuming the position of executive vice president and general manager of MTVN games and its interactive media group. In this newly formed unit, Lehman will be responsible for MTVN's global strategy and operations for its gaming media businesses--including Xfire and GameTrailers, as well as its interactive and social media initiatives, such as FLUX.

Kenny Miller, meanwhile, has been named executive vice president and creative director of global digital media, and is tasked with driving digital platform development as well as building and operating cross-brand digital applications.

Nick Rockwell will now serve as senior vice president and chief technology officer, overseeing global digital technical operations and application development. Rockwell will continue to report to Joe Simon, Chief Information Officer of Viacom and MTV Networks.

Greg Clayman will assume the role of senior vice president of MTVN Mobile Media--and will be responsible for managing mobile partnerships and content distribution for the company, as well as supporting the teams at the individual MTVN brands in developing mobile content.

Lastly, Jason Witt has taken on the role of senior vice president of online distribution and partnerships, and is responsible for increasing the company's online reach, viewership, and direct revenues. Clayman and Witt will continue to report to Nicole Browning, president of MTVN's affiliate sales and marketing unit.

The new MTV digital team will work in tight coordination with the digital executives at each of MTV Networks' groups, including Courtney Holt, executive vice president of digital music and media, MTVN music, logo and films Group; Stephen Youngwood, executive vice president, Nickelodeon and MTVN kids and family group; Erik Flannigan, senior vice president, digital media, MTVN entertainment group; and Gideon Bierer, senior vice president, digital media, MTV Networks International. The team will also be expected to collaborate with Nada Stirratt, executive vice president, digital advertising.