MUMBAI: US broadcaster MTV has announced that Marva Smalls has been named the company’s first executive VP global inclusion strategy.

In this new position, Smalls will drive MTV’s ongoing efforts to champion a diverse, multicultural and inclusive workforce; and to develop the next generation of leaders across its worldwide brands.
She will report to MTV chairman and CEO, Judy McGrath and will become a member of the company’s senior strategy team. Smalls also will retain her current responsibilities as Nickelodeon/MTVN kids and family group executive VP public affairs.

“Diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion are core values for our company – they are at the heart of our business success, our programming strategy and our culture.” said McGrath. “There’s no person better suited than Marva to implement this vision across MTV Networks and help develop our next generation of leaders.”

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Smalls will work with the leadership of all MTV brands to champion these values, and to support an environment across the company where all employees can contribute to its success while achieving their own professional goals. Further, she will expand MTVN’s partnerships with leading outside organizations and exemplify MTVN’s diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion efforts worldwide.

Smalls says. “Our culture at MTVN is a rare thing. Our employees share ideas, take creative risks and, most importantly, reflect the audiences they serve and what’s important to them. Diversity and inclusion are as essential as creativity and innovation for success in a global marketplace, and I am excited to build on these core values, particularly as we extend our brands – and acquire new ones – across all platforms.”

MTV has also announced that it is restructuring its day-to-day approach to diversity leadership, with the introduction of a new internal advisory team. Members of the team will reflect the leading business units of MTV Networks, and will have direct impact on diversity, multicultural and inclusion issues, including domestic and international Channel Management, Operations, Programming, Ad Sales, Corporate Responsibility, Creative, Communications, Human Resources and Learning & Development. Working closely with Smalls and the MTV Diversity Council, the advisory team will help set priorities, develop strategies and implement policies that advance MTV’s core values throughout every level of the company and beyond.

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As a result of the restructuring, the position of Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) has been eliminated and CDO Billy Dexter will be leaving the company.

Mcgrath says, “Given our unique company culture with multiple stakeholders in our diversity efforts, we’ve come to realise that a team approach will best serve us in a global and now multi-platform environment. I have the greatest respect for Billy, and we thank him for his contributions to our diversity and inclusion mission. He has enhanced our existing initiatives and we’ve benefited from his expertise.”

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