MTV President Norman Stepping Down

By Jon Lafayette

MTV President Christina Norman is leaving the company at the end of the month.

She said she wanted to explore something new after 17 years with MTV Networks, according to an internal announcement from Van Toffler, president of MTV Music and Logo Group.

Mr. Toffler will take on day-to-day responsibility for MTV until a decision is made on how to reassign Ms. Norman’s duties.

MTV has been recovering from a steep ratings drop thanks to shows such as “The Hills,” “A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila” and “Making the Band.” It also has been ramping up its online programming.

“Christina made it clear that MTV’s current creative vibrancy and thriving business provided her with the perfect timing to explore something new,” Mr. Toffler said in his announcement. “It has been my great honor to work with Christina and she will always be part of the legend and success of our company. We will miss her and I personally can’t wait to see what incredible feat she will conquer next with the same class and tenacity she has exemplified during her many years here.”

Ms. Norman was named president of MTV in 2005. She had been with sister network VH1, where she’d been president since 2004, leading that network out of a slump.

Ms. Norman started at MTV Networks as a freelance production manager making spots for shows including “Beavis & Butt-head” and “The Osbournes.”