Viacom exec, lacking recent hits, will exit

Longtime Viacom exec Doug Herzog, who oversees the networks Comedy Central and MTV, is leaving the company next month, according to a memo to employees sent Wednesday from Chief Executive Bob Bakish.

Herzog, a 25-year veteran known for helping develop such MTV hits as “The Real World” and Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” is leaving as part of a restructuring following Bakish’s appointment earlier this month, according to sources.

Most recently Herzog was head of the music and entertainment group, which includes VH1, Spike and Logo. Bakish said in the memo that the brands in Herzog’s group will now directly report to him.

Viacom named Bakish, former head of its international business, as acting CEO at the end of October, then permanent chief on Dec. 12 as it announced the end of merger explorations with CBS, run by Les Moonves.

A second bigwig — Denise Denson, a longtime exec who worked closely with former CEO Philippe Dauman — left earlier in December.

Bakish thanked Herzog for his “incredible contributions” to Viacom, noting his “sharp creative insight.”

In his own memo to his staff, Herzog reciprocated Bakish’s praise, telling employees they were “in very good hands” and predicting that Viacom would once again become “the envy of its peers.”

Viacom executive Doug Herzog (below), who oversees the ratings-ravaged MTV and Comedy Central, will exit his post in January, according to reports. The way Things were: In better times, Viacom’s MTV drew high ratings with its “Jersey Shore,” while “The...