Former Nickelodeon President Herb Scannell Joins Latino Network Mitu As CEO

Mitu has made a change at the top of its business, and its new CEO is a man who has significant experience in the media world. The digital network, which appeals to bilingual consumers in the United States and Latin America, has hired Herb Scannell as its chief executive.

Scannell is best known for his for his stint as the President of Nickelodeon, a position he held between 1996 and 2006. After departing that post, he entered the online video world through Next New Networks, an entity that fostered hit channels like Barely Political and Channel Frederator before its acquisition by YouTube in 2011. In 2010, Scannell moved on to BBC America, where he continued to champion the power of digital media.

Now, he has arrived at Mitu. Variety noted that Scannell had previously served as a consultant for the network and had gained a seat on its board. In ascending to the CEO role, he will replace Roy Burstin, a founding member of Mitu who has now resigned.

Scannell will work alongside Mitu president Beatriz Acevedo, who will continue to oversee the network’s content production efforts. In joining the Mitu team, Scannell referenced his own Latino roots; his mother is Puerto Rican. “Mitu’s promise speaks to me professionally and personally,” he said. “This is a market that matters, and a market that’s been underserved by traditional media.”

Mitu serves its brand of Latino-facing content across multiple platforms, including YouTube, Snapchat, and Facebook. Its recent ventures include an accelerator program that is searching for next-generation creators.