MTV to rejig legal dept after chief walks

MTV Networks is due to reshuffle its legal team after parting company with Robert Cummins, its head of business and legal affairs for emerging markets.

Cummins has left his role two years after joining from business and technology consultancy Sapient. It is understood that he has yet to find a new role.

MTV head of legal for international and the UK Roger James declined to comment on the departure, but said the company is looking for a replacement.

Cummins reported to James, who has worked at MTV for more than 10 years and who inherited the top legal job at the company after it restructured its legal department a year ago.

James had been part of a three-man management team looking after production, with Nayeem Syed as UK head of legal and Neil Miller responsible for ­technology and corporate. ­But following recommendations from management consultancy McKinsey, the pan-European legal team was reintegrated with the UK legal team, with James as the sole head of legal. Syed has since joined ­Bollywood media company Eros and Miller works in-house at online television company Joost.

MTV’s outside counsel include Field Fisher Waterhouse, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Olswang.

Cummins was unavailable for comment.