AFI BLOG: Media and Technology

Kind Words For Sykes From McGrath - MultiChannel News

MTV Networks Chief Salutes Colleague In Memo

MTV Networks CEO Judy McGrath today announced John Sykes’s departure from MTVN, hailing her longtime colleague for his “creative leadership, bold thinking and social responsibility.”

Sykes is leaving his gig as president of network development after spending the last couple of years attempting to launch new digital cable networks, or broadband services, aimed at the older edge of MTVN’s demographic (baby boomers).

Here’s the internal memo from McGrath:

I have some news I want to share with you. John Sykes, a longtime member of the MTV Networks and Viacom family band, has made the decision to leave MTVN and plot the next chapter in his storied career.

Many have left their indelible mark on MTV Networks over the years, but John’s creative leadership, bold thinking, and social responsibility – not to mention the world’s greatest A-list relationships – truly shaped our company. John isn’t just in tune with popular culture – he isn’t satisfied unless he is defining it.

He was here at the dawn of MTVN time, running around the country attempting to launch MTV, convincing people they needed Duran Duran in their lives. Or at least, to have their haircuts.

As President of VH1 from 1994 to 2002, John led the network to its first renaissance, with big ratings, revenue growth and every hot list. He shepherded the programming that defined VH1, and really launched the brand…from “Behind the Music” to “Pop Up Video” to signature events including the Fashion Awards, Divas and the Concert for New York.

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