George Cheeks currently holds the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CBS Entertainment and is also serving as one of three individuals entrusted with running the Office of the CEO at Paramount Global.
As the CEO of CBS Entertainment, Cheeks oversees a vast array of CBS-branded assets within the Paramount Global umbrella, including the CBS Television Network (encompassing CBS Entertainment, CBS News, and CBS Sports), CBS Studios, CBS Television Stations, and CBS Media Ventures, the company’s first-run syndication business. Additionally, he collaborates closely with the ViacomCBS digital organization to steward the CBS-branded digital assets, including the popular streaming platform CBS All Access.
Cheeks’ early career
A graduate of the prestigious Yale University, he further honed his skills by obtaining a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School, arming himself with a comprehensive understanding of the legal intricacies that govern the industry.
With over three decades of experience under his belt, Cheeks’ career has been marked by a series of notable achievements and leadership roles. He embarked on his professional path as an Entertainment Associate at Loeb & Loeb from 1992 to 1994, followed by a stint as Senior Counsel, Business and Legal Affairs, for Castle Rock Entertainment between 1995 and 1997.
Cheeks’ talents were further refined during his tenure as an entertainment attorney at the renowned boutique firm Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren & Richman in Beverly Hills from 1997 to 1998. This diverse array of experiences laid the groundwork for his eventual ascension to the upper echelons of the industry.
In 1998, Cheeks joined the ranks of Viacom, starting as Senior Counsel for MTV Networks in the Business and Legal Affairs Department for the Nickelodeon Group. His unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership skills propelled him through positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in his elevation to Executive Vice President and General Counsel for MTV, MTV2, MTVu, MTV Films, VH1, CMT, and LOGO in 2005.
Cheeks at NBC and becoming CBS CEO
Cheeks moved to NBC in 2012 and his responsibilities there were marked by a series of pivotal roles that solidified his reputation as an industry leader. Serving as Co-Chairman of NBC Entertainment and the head of late-night programming, he oversaw a wide range of critical functions, including business affairs, marketing, communications, scheduling, West Coast research, digital operations, and first-run syndication.
In March 2020, Cheeks embarked on a new chapter by joining CBS as the successor to Joe Ianniello, assuming the role of President and CEO of CBS Entertainment while reporting to Bob Bakish, the then-President and CEO of ViacomCBS. His ascension to the newly formed “Office of the CEO” at Paramount Global in May 2024, alongside Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins, further solidified his position as a driving force in shaping the future of the entertainment industry.