Hollywood, California – Javier Avitia has been appointed Executive Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs, CBS Studios International, it was announced on July 28 by Armando Nuñez, President and Chief Executive Office, CBS Global Distribution Group.
In his new position, reporting to Nuñez, Avitia will oversee all business and legal affairs for the international division, supporting the Company’s growing operations in content licensing, format sales and international channel ventures. Avitia will work closely with Jonathan Anschell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of CBS Television, and with the broader CBS Television legal team.
Avitia has worked for CBS Studios International and its predecessor divisions, CBS Paramount International Television and Paramount International Television, for more than 15 years, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Business Affairs. During this time, he has negotiated many of the division’s prominent output deals and volume deals with international broadcasters, as well as licensing agreements for some of the top global programming franchises, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NCIS and Ray Donovan.
“Javier has been an important member of our executive team for many years, as well as a trusted colleague and friend,” said Nuñez. “He is an executive that combines outstanding business and legal acumen with a deep understanding of how content works in a complex and evolving international market. We are thrilled to have his experience and skills at the helm of our business affairs and legal teams.”
Avitia’s career with business and legal affairs for entertainment companies spans 20 years, including serving three years as Senior Legal Counsel for Univision. He began his career in private practice as a corporate lawyer for the international law firms Jones Day and White & Case.
Avitia holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School and an undergraduate degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis. He currently serves as a board member of the Imagen Foundation.
