Dermot McCormack Takes Over AOL Video & Studios As Ran Harnevo Departs

AOL has just welcomed a new face into its offices. The company tapped Dermot McCormack, former leader of Viacom Music and Logo’s Connect Content Group, to become its new President of AOL Video and Studios.

In his new role, McCormack will oversee AOL On and BE On, both part of AOL Platforms. AOL On consists of 14 channels with a focus on relevant video content, and BE On is a branded content and entertainment platform. McCormack will also lead AOL Studios by overseeing the production and distribution of original programming. He’ll be based in both New York City and Beverly Hills, reporting to Tim Armstrong, AOL’s Chairman and CEO, and Bob Lord, CEO of AOL Platforms.

“I have watched the evolution of AOL’s video strategy closely and have seen it develop into a thriving business poised to break out. I am delighted to be joining AOL now to make sure it does just that,” said McCormack in the release. “We are early days in our journey, but the opportunity is huge and my goal is to make sure that we put in place a strategy and operating process that ensures AOL takes more than its fair share of that opportunity.”

The hire stems from the departure of Ran Harnevo, founder of AOL On and startup company 5min Media. “It’s been an amazing 8 years from the early days of the online video industry to where we are right now at AOL,” he said in the release. “Building 5min Media as a small start-up and then getting acquired 4 years later to keep going full speed and reach our vision, was the best experience in my professional life.”

Harnevo noted it was time for him to “return to [his] entrepreneurial roots,” and that he feels confident Dermot is the right person to take over AOL On. Harnevo will, however, stay on as executive producer of AOL’s first long-form original series, Connected.

Since 2011, AOL has already launched over 50 original series, two of which boast Emmy nominations. All of the company’s programs are distributed through 15 connected devices, including Apple TV.