NBCUniversal executive heads to ViacomCBS, setting up possible successor to CBS chief

He could ultimately succeed Joe Ianniello as head of the network

George Cheeks (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

George Cheeks, a top executive at Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal, is headed to ViacomCBS Inc. in a senior role at CBS, where he could ultimately succeed Joe Ianniello as head of the network, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Mr. Cheeks, the vice chairman of NBCUniversal Content Studios, resigned from the Comcast Corp. company on Tuesday, a person close to him said. Mr. Cheeks is a former Viacom executive who held a senior role in its cable networks group for several years.

Neither Mr. Ianniello nor Mr. Cheeks could be reached for comment.

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Viacom merged with sister company CBS in December.