Viacom's digital guru leaves for News Corp.'s digital news venture

Greg Clayman, the executive in charge of digital distribution at Viacom Inc. (VIA), has been lured away to run business operations at News Corp.’s (NWSA) new digital news organization.
All Things Digital got access to a memo from MTV Networks announcing Clayman’s exit as EVP of digital distribution and business development over the weekend. His new role at the so-far unnamed news venture will essentially be that of a publisher.
“Please join us in cheering for Greg and wishing him the best of luck as he transitions out of MTV Networks. He’s been a great champion of our digital story, an even greater champion of our brands, and, quite simply, a good friend,” executives Judy McGrath and Rich Eigendorff wrote. The memo did not detail where Clayman would be heading, however.
The new subscription-based digital news service, which will have a heavy focus on mobile and distribution on tablets and the like, will kick off with up to $40 million from News Corp. to compete with other national publications like The New York Times and USA Today. Content will be pulled from a dedicated editorial staff under the direction of New York Post executive editor Jesse Angelo.
News Corp. has yet to name the new venture, announce a date for launch or define its subscription. It would stand to reason that Clayman will play a heavy hand in all of those matters going forward.