Former Paramount Animation EVP Ramsey Naito (pictured) has been named EVP of animation production and development for Nickelodeon.

Based out of the Burbank studio, Naito will be responsible for shepherding Nick’s animated content for TV, film and digital. She will also lead the day-to-day operations of Nick’s animation group, identify new talent and projects, and oversee key animated franchises including SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Loud House.

In her new role, the Oscar-nominated producer will report directly to Nickelodeon president Brian Robbins, who took the reins at Nick last month after the departure of longtime president Cyma Zarghami.

Naito was previously EVP of Animation for Viacom’s Paramount division, where she led production on the upcoming third SpongeBob SquarePants movie that’s slated for release in 2020. Prior to joining Viacom in April, Naito was a producer at DreamWorks and Blue Sky Studios, head of movies at Cartoon Network, and VP of development and production at Nickelodeon Movies.

With Naito moving into the Nickelodeon Group, former SVP of animation and development Chris Viscardi will shift into a producer role to oversee the creation of feature-length animated content for both Nick and its third-party digital and linear platforms.

The executive re-org follows an uneven third quarter for Viacom. But despite a 4% revenue drop to US$3.24 billion, the company’s domestic theatrical business grew 58%, and Viacom held onto its top share of basic US cable viewing among kids ages two to 11.