According to Deadline, the merger between CBS and Paramount cable assets continues to move forward under the stewardship of George Cheeks. Similar to the BET coming under the CBS Studios umbrella in December 2025, Nickelodeon Animation Studios will now also join the brand. All of the production units involved in the Skydance merger are now officially under the same banner.
Alec Botnick will take the reins of Nickelodeon Animation Studios as its President. Ashley Kaplan, who had been working with Botnick as co-heads for the past four months, will stay on as a consultant til the end of the year.
Cheeks has continued to increase CBS oversight in Paramount brands. Brands such as MTV, BET, Comedy Central, and now Nickelodeon have all undergone new leadership since Cheeks took over the merger.
Kaplan, who was formerly EVP of Unscripted and Digital Franchise Studios before her time as head. She was largely responsible for Nickelodeon’s digital success, helping the company forge a strong YouTube presence via short-form content. Botnick was EVP of CBS Studios, Comedy Development, and Head of Animation and Alternative.
Cheeks spoke on Botnick’s promotion stating, “Alec’s leadership will be essential in shaping our next phase as Nickelodeon reinvents how we reach preschoolers, starting where discovery happens first and evolving into a true cross-platform brand,” he spoke on the the scope of Botnick’s new role saying he will “oversee the animation studio and its evolution across digital, TV and streaming as we reimagine how we meet today’s kids and families,” via Deadline. Jules Borknet will see no change in her role, continuing as EVP of global commercial partnerships and operations.
Cheeks announced the changes in a memo to the company. The memo can be seen below:
Team,
I’m excited to announce that Alec Botnick has been appointed president of Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Alec will lead Nickelodeon Animation Studios into its next chapter, while also continuing his current role as EVP of CBS Studios comedy development, alternative & animation. Similar to BET Studios, Nickelodeon Animation Studios will now operate as its own label for television within CBS Studios.
For Nickelodeon, Alec will oversee the animation studio and its evolution across digital, TV and streaming as we reimagine how we meet today’s kids and families. Alec’s leadership will be essential in shaping our next phase as Nickelodeon reinvents how we reach preschoolers, starting where discovery happens first and evolving into a true cross-platform brand. He will lead Nickelodeon’s unscripted programming for television, including the Kids’ Choice Awards, while also guiding the development of new series and overseeing our long-running hits, ensuring Nickelodeon remains home to the world’s most iconic kids’ franchises like SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, PAW PATROL and more.
Alec will also continue to develop scripted comedies and alternative projects for CBS Studios, as well as maintain oversight of animated development across the CBS, Comedy Central and MTV brands for owned and third-party platforms. Series and projects Alec has helped develop include GHOSTS and ETERNALLY YOURS for CBS, the critically acclaimed Australian comedy COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS for Paramount+ and the animated series “Odd Jobs” for Prime Video.
I also want to share that Ashley Kaplan will transition to a consulting role beginning Monday. In this capacity, she will support the TV Media division on special projects through the end of the year. We are grateful to Ashley for her years of leadership and appreciate her continued partnership.
Jules Borkent, executive vice president of global commercial partnerships and operations, will continue to oversee Nickelodeon Kids & Family’s business and strategy, working in partnership with Alec and other key stakeholders to maximize the Nick brand.
Please join me in congratulating Alec on this well-deserved role. I’m excited for what’s ahead as we continue building the next chapter of Nickelodeon.
All the best,
George