Banijay, owner of brands including Masterchef and Survivor, has appointed Damien Viel as chief digital and marketing officer. In this new role, Viel will take charge of the group’s marketing and digital diversification strategies, supercharging innovation worldwide.
Viel, a digital content creator and digital-first strategist, comes onboard after a seven-year stint as managing director for Twitter in France, a role he departed late last year. Prior to that, he was at Google, the latter part as director, YouTube and Google Brand solutions for Southern/Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa.
At Banijay, Viel will concentrate on injecting his tech experience into the 21-territory-strong group. The company said: “Exploring new partnerships, further monetisation opportunities for its leading brands, and reputation-building opportunities outside the entity’s core industry, he will be key to bolstering the company’s impactful long-term strategy.”
Viel, a seasoned digital creator, will report to Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti, who said: “Our industry is in an undeniable period of flux, and with further digital diversification on the horizon, we are keen to capitalise on innovation avenues to ensure we maintain our position. Damien will be a great asset as we look to further fulfil our growth ambitions and elevate our brand on the global stage.”
Viel added: “Digital innovation has rapidly changed how audiences consume content, and how leading story-makers share it. While tech advancements are often met with scepticism, As a digital-first strategist, I’m a firm believer that innovation, creative technologies, AI and a customer-focused approach, only bring further opportunity. That is what I am keen to explore at Banijay.”
While Viel has strong digital-first credentials, his career has also been deeply rooted in the ad business. Prior to Google, he was deputy GM for M6 Publicité, the advertising arm of M6 Groupe. As operational lead, he had oversight of all agency and client relationships.
