Ben Richardson new head for MTV parent Viacom Australia

Ben Richardson is the new Senior Vice President and General Manager of Viacom International Media Network in Australia and New Zealand.

Based in Sydney, he will oversee the strategic direction and management of its brands including MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. Richardson was previously VP and GM of Nickelodeon, a joint venture between Viacom International and XYZnetwork. He joined Viacom in 2005 and worked in content roles in India, Indonesia, Japan and Korea before moving to Nickelodeon.

Richardson replaces Katrina Southon, who left the company after 17 years. Late last year, MTV Australia moved most of its programming to the UK and lost its GM Rebecca Batties.

Before Viacom, Richardson was at XYZnetworks (1995 to 2005) where he was executive producer at Channel [V], overseeing broadcasts such as the Big Day Out and Regurgitator’s Band in a Bubble project.