As the reorg efforts at Paramount continue, CBS Studios exec Alec Botnick (pictured) is now taking charge at Nickelodeon Animation Studios, which will now operate as a label under CBS Studios. 

Botnick and Ashley Kaplan have been jointly running the studio since November, though their exact titles and job duties were somewhat unclear at the time.

But in a memo sent out on Friday, chair of TV media George Cheeks outlined the new structure—with Botnick officially named president of Nickelodeon Animation Studios. 

He’ll oversee the animation studio and its evolution across digital, TV and streaming, while Kaplan transitions into a consultant role starting today. She will work on a number of “special projects” in the TV division and exit the company by the end of the year. It’s the end of a notable tenure for Kaplan, who served as EVP of unscripted and digital franchise studios and has been at Nickelodeon since 2019. She oversaw the brand’s first YouTube original animated series, Kid Cowboy, as well as the annual Kids Choice Awards, Nick News and NFL content on the unscripted side.

In the memo, Cheeks also mapped out key priorities for Botnick, hinting that the preschool brand Nick Jr. could be at the top of his agenda. “Alec’s leadership will be essential in shaping our next phase as Nickelodeon reinvents how we reach preschoolers, starting where discovery happens first and evolving into a true cross-platform brand,” Cheeks said.

Generally not from a kids background, Botnick will also retain his remit at CBS Studios—where he’s been for the past decade—and continue to develop comedies and unscripted content, as well as overseeing animation for other brands beyond Nick, like CBS, Comedy Central and MTV. His credits include adult animated titles like Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+) and Tooning Out the News (Comedy Central).

In addition to overseeing development of new and ongoing cartoons at Nick (like Wylde Pak, which aired its season finale on Friday) and legacy franchises (including the brand’s crown jewel, SpongeBob SquarePants), Botnick will also lead Nickelodeon’s unscripted programming—which includes the Kids’ Choice Awards. 

He’ll also be working closely on strategy with Jules Borkent, who will continue overseeing Nickelodeon Kids & Family’s business and strategy as EVP of global commercial partnerships and operations. 

While these latest changes have folded Nick Animation into CBS Studios operations, Nickelodeon live-action and Awesomeness TV were moved under Paramount Television Studios, which was revived last year with a major leadership rejig. That division is producing the upcoming Netflix-bound Hollywood Arts, a spinoff of Nick’s popular tween series Victorious.