July 2024

George Cheeks was named co-CEO of Paramount Global in May 2024 adding to his role as president and CEO of CBS.

Since joining the company in March 2020, Cheeks has helped transform the CBS brand from a singular broadcast network to a global content provider for broadcast and streaming. CBS industry-leading assets include the CBS Television Network, which encompasses CBS Entertainment, CBS News and Stations, CBS Sports, as well as CBS Studios and CBS Media Ventures, its first-run syndication business. Under Cheeks’ leadership, CBS has continued its reign as America’s Most-Watched Network, a streak that has reached a record 16 consecutive years while adding new hit programs such as TRACKER, FIRE COUNTRY, GHOSTS and ELSBETH that drive audiences for both CBS and Paramount+.

His global purview has also expanded to include BET, Paramount Television Studios and the company’s free-to-air networks in the United Kingdom, Australia, Argentina and Chile. He has also overseen content for news and sports on Paramount+, where he was integral to extending the world-class programming from CBS Sports and CBS News to the streaming service.

Cheeks has been an innovative business and creative force in the television industry for more than 30 years which includes senior leadership roles at NBC and Viacom Music and Entertainment Groups. He served more than seven years at NBCUniversal in senior executive positions that spanned creative, business and operational roles, including co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, where he oversaw primetime, late night and scripted daytime programming for the network.

Prior to joining NBC in 2012, Cheeks was executive vice president of business affairs and general counsel at Viacom Music and Entertainment Groups, as well as head of standards and practices for Viacom Media Networks. He also served in senior business and legal affairs positions for MTV Networks and the Nickelodeon Group.

Cheeks started his career in 1992 as an entertainment associate at Loeb & Loeb. He moved to Castle Rock Entertainment as senior counsel, business and legal affairs in 1995 before joining the boutique entertainment firm of Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren & Richman in Beverly Hills two years later as an entertainment attorney.

A graduate of Yale University (Phi Beta Kappa), Cheeks received his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School (cum laude).