Louis Carr Promoted to President of BET
Louis Carr has been appointed president of BET. Carr succeeds president/CEO Scott Mills, who announced earlier on Wednesday (Dec. 3) that he was exiting the company after 23 years.
According to a press release announcing Carr’s appointment, the newly named president will report to George Cheeks, chair of TV media at Paramount. In his role, Cheeks’ oversight includes CBS, BET, MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.
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“Louis’ leadership has been integral to BET’s success for nearly four decades,” said Cheeks in a statement. “His vision for the future will drive innovation, deepen BET’s cultural impact and position the brand for continued growth.”
Carr’s promotion expands his prior role as president of media sales at BET, where he has worked for 39 years. During his tenure at the cable network, Carr has developed partnerships with a host of major companies, including Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Unilever, McDonald’s, Meta and Toyota.
“BET and its commitment to Black and Brown communities has been my life’s work,” commented Carr. “It’s a privilege to lead the brand to the next level of excellence and impact.”
Carr’s appointment and Mills’ departure follow Paramount Global’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media in August. BET, which celebrated its 45th anniversary this year, had been up for sale beginning in 2023, with Paramount said to be interested in selling a majority stake. Media stories pegged Tyler Perry, Byron Allen, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Mills as among the bidders before Paramount announced ahead of the merger that BET Media Group was no longer for sale.
Mills last spoke with Billboard in early August, reflecting on the network’s 45-year legacy before moving forward under new ownership. “I would assure everyone who cares about BET that it will continue to be here for our community,” said Mills. “We’re all committed to that.”
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