Paula Kaplan Promoted to New Position of Executive Vice President, Talent and West Coast General Manager, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group

Paula Kaplan Promoted to New Position of Executive Vice President, Talent and West Coast General Manager, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Veteran Nickelodeon executive Paula Kaplan has been promoted to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Talent and West Coast General Manager, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. The announcement was made today by Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group, to whom Ms. Kaplan will report.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070925/NYTU081 )

In her new role, Ms. Kaplan will continue to oversee talent and casting for the many businesses of Nickelodeon including television, digital and consumer products, as well as MTVN Kids and Family Group brands The N, Nick at Nite, and Noggin, while expanding to include talent development and music. She will be a key member of the team building Nickelodeon's music brand, spearheading talent development and A&R efforts for the company's music- related initiatives. Recently, Nickelodeon announced a partnership with Sony Music Label Group, where the two companies will co-develop, co-produce, and jointly finance television and music projects over the next four years. One of the first projects under the new deal is the release of a CD featuring music from the network's newest hit live-action series, "The Naked Brothers Band" due to hit shelves Tuesday, October 9.

Additionally, as West Coast General Manager for Nickelodeon, Ms. Kaplan will coordinate closely with all divisions of the company and serve as the primary point person for Nickelodeon in Los Angeles.

"Paula planted the Nickelodeon flag in the creative community many years ago when most people outside of New York didn't even know what Nickelodeon was," Ms. Zarghami said. "She has built one of the most successful rosters of kid and tween talent in the industry and has played an integral role in making the annual Kids' Choice Awards a must-attend event for everyone in Hollywood. She will be our primary point person in Los Angeles for all talent and music initiatives as well as our senior executive representing all aspects of Nickelodeon within the creative community."

A 13-year veteran of Nickelodeon, Ms. Kaplan built its Los Angeles Talent Department, which she started in 1996. She has been the driving force behind raising Nickelodeon's corporate profile within the Hollywood talent community and building Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards into a premiere event, attracting such international superstars as Justin Timberlake, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Will Smith and Tom Cruise. Ms. Kaplan is also co- executive producer of the show. Under Ms. Kaplan's leadership, the network has cast and mentored some of today's hottest young stars including Jamie Lynn Spears, Lil' JJ, Emma Roberts, Drake Bell, Josh Peck, Amanda Bynes, Lil' Romeo and Nick Cannon.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Kaplan had been Senior Vice President, Talent for Nickelodeon since 2002. Before joining Nickelodeon Talent, she served in various communications positions for the company, including Director of Communications in Los Angeles from 1994 to 1996 and Director of Public Relations for Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite in New York from 1993 to 1994. Earlier in her career, Ms. Kaplan also held public relations posts at WNBC-TV in New York and producer positions on such programs as Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Live with Regis & Kathie Lee and Inside Edition.

A graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Communications Studies, Ms. Kaplan lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters. She currently sits on the Board of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 94 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for 13 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070925/NYTU081
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN11
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Marianne Romano, +1-310-752-8208, or Joanna Roses,
+1-212-846-7326, both of Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment