Alex Berkett
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy, Viacom

Alex Berkett joined Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) in August 2015 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and subsequently added the Strategy role to his responsibilities. In his role, Mr. Berkett leads the company’s global activities related to strategy, corporate development and mergers and acquisitions. He works closely with senior executives across all Viacom brands and geographies to identify opportunities, advise on strategy and lead transaction negotiation and execution. Mr. Berkett also launched and oversees the Global Emerging Opportunities Group, which coordinates Viacom’s company-wide activities related to new technologies, platforms and business models. Mr. Berkett serves as part of Viacom’s senior executive leadership team and reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer.

Prior to joining Viacom, he served as Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Townsquare Media (NYSE: TSQ), where he was responsible for corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, all capital raising activities, legal affairs, investor relations, business development and corporate communications. In addition, Mr. Berkett led organizational and compensation re-design initiatives and oversaw the Company’s operations in four markets. Mr. Berkett directed the execution of Townsquare Media’s 2014 Initial Public Offering. Mr. Berkett co-founded Townsquare in 2010 with his partners from FiveWire Media, an investment firm he co-founded. In 2009, Mr. Berkett joined FiveWire from J.P. Morgan’s Technology, Media & Telecom Investment Banking Group, which he joined following J.P. Morgan’s acquisition of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. in 2008.

Mr. Berkett spent eleven years in the investment banking division of Bear Stearns, rising to the level of Managing Director, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions for media and entertainment companies. During his tenure at Bear Stearns, he was responsible for the execution of large scale transactions across numerous media sectors.

During the course of his career, Mr. Berkett has served as an advisor, an entrepreneur and a senior executive and has managed functions ranging from mergers and acquisitions and capital raising to strategy and emerging opportunities. He has led transaction teams as well as operational teams and developed and mentored junior team members into senior roles. Mr. Berkett has been involved, as a principal or an advisor, in over 100 M&A and capital raising transactions totaling over $250 billion in aggregate value.

Mr. Berkett received a B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy. He serves on the Board of Directors of Philo and Rainbow S.p.A. and the Advisory Board of Quibi, among others, as well as on the Fresh Air Fund’s Council. Mr. Berkett resides in Brooklyn with his wife Taryn and their children Bryton (7) and Holden (5). He is a long time New York Yankees season ticket holder, an avid traveler and enthusiastic, if not top-caliber, golfer.