MUMBAI: CBS Corporation has elected Leslie Moonves as the next chair of the CBS Board of Directors. Moonves was nominated by CBS Board vice chair Shari E. Redstone and his appointment was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the CBS directors. He also will continue to serve as president and CEO of CBS, positions he has held since 2006. 

Moonves’ election by the Board follows the recent resignation of the 92-year old Sumner M. Redstone from his position of executive chairman, which was effective 2 February, 2016, and his appointment to the role of CBS Corporation chairman emeritus. Shari Redstone, Sumner Redstone’s daughter, will continue to serve as vice chair of the CBS Board, a position she has held since 2005.

“I am honoured to accept the chairmanship of this great company,” said Moonves. “I want to thank Sumner for his guidance and strong support over all these years. It has meant the world to me. I am particularly grateful that Shari Redstone has agreed to continue in her role as Vice Chair of the Company. Her business acumen and knowledge of the media space remain very important to me as we move forward, and I greatly appreciate her support and invaluable counsel. I would also like to thank our excellent board of directors, who have contributed so significantly to our success. The people of CBS have achieved much together and I believe the best is yet to come.”

Moonves joined CBS in 1995 after a career at Warner Bros. Television and Lorimar Television. He has held positions as president of CBS Entertainment (1995-1998), president and CEO of CBS Television (1998-2003) and chairman of CBS Television (2003-2004). In 2004, Moonves also became co-president and co-COO of Viacom and remained so until CBS’s separation from Viacom in 2006 when he became president and CEO of CBS Corporation.

Before electing Moonves, the CBS Board offered the position of non-executive chair to Shari Redstone, but she declined in light of her other professional and personal responsibilities, and in recognition of her confidence in Moonves. Shari Redstone serves as co-founder and managing partner of Advancit Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage companies focusing on media, entertainment and technology. She also serves as vice chair of Viacom, and as president of National Amusements, Inc., which is the controlling shareholder of Viacom and CBS, and owner of the international chain of Showcase and Cinema de Lux theaters.

“I have been fortunate to work with Les and he has clearly established himself as a creative and effective leader who understands both the challenges and the opportunities that are shaping today’s media landscape,” she said. “I am sure he will make a great chair and I look forward to working with him for many years to come.”