Frank Tanki has been named general manager of Viacom-owned CMT, adding to his duties as general manager of Viacom’s TV Land. Tanki steps in for President Brian Phillips, who is departing the network after 16 years.

As a 12-year veteran of Viacom, Tanki comes to the job after serving as executive vice president of marketing and creative for Spike TV, soon to be rebranded as Paramount Network. Tanki will continue to report directly to Kevin Kay, president of Spike, TV Land and CMT.

“As a fan of CMT and country music, I’m thrilled to join the team and remain committed to ensuring this iconic brand continues its upward trajectory as the leading destination for country music and culture,” said Tanki in a statement. “My focus is to successfully navigate CMT through the changing media landscape and extend the power of the brand’s voice.”

“CMT is one of the most distinct brands in all of media and Frank is the perfect leader to guide the team to new summits of success,” said Kay, also in a statement. “I am confident that Frank will apply the same ingenuity that has been the hallmark of his career at Viacom to ensure that CMT continues to thrive, while keeping the network true to its brand.”

Viacom has been rebranding and consolidating networks after the arrival of Bob Bakish and the company’s new CEO last November. TV Land and CMT were placed under Kay in February.

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