David Lynn

CEO at Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN)

Speaker

David Lynn has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) since January 2017, giving him management oversight of all of Viacom's media networks and related businesses outside the U.S. Following his appointment, VIMN delivered record operating income in fiscal 2018 and its fastest rate of profit growth in 5 years.

As CEO, Lynn has been responsible for a range of strategic growth initiatives including the launch of Viacom International Studios and a significant increase in VIMN’s digital video revenues thanks a range of innovative licensing and distribution deals including its first multi-territory distribution deal with Telefonica in Latin America and the launch of Paramount+ across Scandinavia and Central and Eastern Europe.

Prior to assuming this role in January 2017, Lynn was President of VIMN UK, Northern and Eastern Europe from 2014, having been Executive Vice President, Managing Director of the group since March 2007. In this role he was responsible for the largest of Viacom’s geographic divisions outside the U.S., encompassing the company’s operations in 33 European countries including the UK, Hungary, Poland, Russia and Scandinavia. The group grew profitability under Lynn’s management every year from 2010 onwards, thanks to increased share of viewing in the UK driven by success with local commissions and an expanding distribution footprint, including the first launch of Spike outside the U.S.

Lynn led the acquisition of Channel 5 Broadcasting in 2014 and its successful integration into Viacom. Under his management, Channel 5 has performed strongly, reporting the highest operating profits in its 20-year history and its highest share of viewing in 13 years in 2017.

Lynn was also previously responsible for Viacom’s distribution strategy outside the U.S., overseeing deals with key international affiliates and securing distribution for Viacom content on video-on-demand platforms.

From December 2004, Lynn served as Senior Vice President, Managing Director, for Nickelodeon UK. Under his direction, Nickelodeon became the UK’s most popular children’s TV network, launched Nick Jr. and kick-started its digital strategy. Prior to this, Lynn worked in senior management roles for Paramount Comedy Channel in the UK from 1999 onwards, rising to become General Manager and moving the business into profit, as well as securing channel launches for the brand in Spain and Italy.

Lynn, is a member of the board of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and a member of Viacom’s Global Inclusion Advisory Committee and has championed the company’s diversity strategy in the UK with Channel 5 re-joining the Creative Diversity Network.