Ron Johnson has been promoted to EVP, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products for Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), which will put him at the helm of Viacom’s international consumer products operations.

Effective April 1, Johnson will lead VIMN’s consumer product business across retail, operations, creative development, licensing, recreation, promotions and marketing.  He will be based in New York and will report to Pierluigi Gazzolo, COO, VIMN.

Johnson first joined Viacom in 2010 as SVP of  Walmart Retail Development for Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP). He went to lead NVCP’s global retail business for all retail accounts as well as manage all e-commerce and seasonal licensing.

Reporting into Johnson will be Mark Kingston, who has been promoted to GM and SVP for NVCP Europe, Middle East, Africa & Australia, VIMN. He will oversee VIMN’s consumer products operations in these key markets and will remain based in London, UK. Kingston has already been spearheading the company’s pan-European retail efforts and CP operations in the UK, Russia, and Australia.

Michael Connolly, former SVP at NVCP and leader of the international division, left the company last month to pursue new opportunities.