MTV Wednesday appointed former Discovery Communications digital executive Sean Atkins as the network’s new president.

Atkins, who replaces former MTV president Stephen Friedman -- who announced his decision to leave the company hours earlier -- will oversee all creative and business operations for the youth-targeted network as well as its sister networks MTV2 and mtvU, said MTV officials. 

Most recently, Atkins served as general manager and executive vice president of digital media and strategy for Discovery, where he was responsible for driving the company’s original online video strategy and networks including Revision3, SourceFed, Discovery News, and TestTube, said MTV.  

Atkins will report to Doug Herzog, President of the Viacom Music and Entertainment Group. MTV Executive Vice President and Head of Scripted Development Mina Lefevre and Head of Reality Programming and Executive Vice President of Series Development Lauren Dolgen will report directly to Atkins. 

“Sean is smart, creative, passionate, and remarkably energized about the sea change at hand in our industry,” said Herzog in a statement. “The strength of MTV lies in its ability to constantly reinvent, and Sean’s forward-thinking, versatile leadership will ensure our brand and business continue to evolve and deliver for our audience.”

Chris McCarthy is expanding his purview at Viacom.

MTV executive vice president Chris McCarthy, who will continue his roles as general manager of MTV2 and mtvu, has been officially named named general manager of Logo TV. McCarthy had been heading the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-targeted service since Lisa Sherman exited last October. Sherman was recently named president of the Ad Council.

McCarthy has worked alongside MTV president Stephen Friedman as interim general manager since Logo TV became aligned with MTV in late 2013.

To date, 2014 has been the highest-rated and most-watched in Logo TV’s history, up nearly 20% versus 2013 and has registered double-digit growth across all digital properties, according to network officials. 

The channel continues to launch a new slate of original programming, specials and tentpoles, which began rolling out with Trailblazers, a new TV special honoring LGBT pioneers, Secret Guide to Fabulous from executive producers Kelly Ripa and Mark Conseulos’ Milojo Productions and the upcoming documentary Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word, premiering Oct. 17.

“Chris has helped guide our channels to ratings and creative highs,” Friedman said. “With MTV2, he demonstrated how he can lead a network to capture the imagination of a hard to reach young, male demographic. His insight, creativity and business acumen have made an indelible impact, and I'm thrilled to partner with him to drive the next chapter in Logo TV’s evolution.”   

McCarthy was named executive vice president of MTV in 2013. He has been general manager of MTV2 and mtvU since 2010.