Executive Steps Down in Viacom Shake-Up

Viacom International Inc., the New York-based entertainment giant that owns Showtime and MTV and produces such TV shows as “Matlock” and the “Perry Mason” TV movies, announced a management shake-up Monday, sidelining one of the company’s top executives.

Henry S. Schleiff, senior vice president of Viacom and chairman of Viacom’s entertainment and broadcast groups, stepped down to become an in-house producer.

Schleiff, 44, oversaw the TV program production, syndication and TV stations divisions. A longtime HBO executive, Schleiff was recruited to Viacom in 1987 and shortly became a member of the inner circle of Viacom’s top management.

Viacom did not give a reason for the reshuffling, but one knowledgeable person said that the company felt the areas under Schleiff were getting too large and diverse for one person to manage. Also, industry sources speculated that management was unhappy at the pace of development in Viacom’s syndication division, which includes the struggling “Montel Williams Show.”

The company did not name a replacement for Schleiff, but instead promoted two executives to take over his responsibilities. Neil S. Braun, 39, senior vice president of corporate development and administration, has been named chairman and chief executive of Viacom Entertainment Group. Edward D. Horowitz, 45, senior vice president, has been named chairman and chief executive of Viacom Broadcasting.