Veteran BET Executive Scott Mills to Leave After 23 Years, Louis Carr to Take the Helm
After two and a half decades at the helm, BET Media Group President and CEO Scott Mills is departing. The news comes as part of a major shakeup following the formation of Paramount Skydance, which acquired Paramount Global earlier this year.
Mills' departure marks an end to his 23-year tenure at BET, during which he oversaw significant growth and transformation for the company. His exit follows four months after the acquisition of Paramount Global by David Ellison's Skydance Media.
Mills did not provide a reason for his departure in a memo to staff, instead choosing to focus on the accomplishments of the team and the brand. In the memo, Mills expressed gratitude for the support of employees, partners, and the community, acknowledging the incredible impact that BET has had on Black audiences over the years.
Louis Carr, currently president of media sales at BET, will take over as president of the company, reporting directly to George Cheeks, chair of TV media at Paramount Skydance. Carr will continue to serve as head of media sales and oversee the expansion of BET Studios under CBS Studios.
The new leadership comes as part of a broader strategy to drive innovation, influence, and cultural relevance in the years ahead. Under Mills' leadership, BET expanded its reach and influence, creating strategic partnerships and events that cemented its status as a leading entertainment brand.
Carr's tenure at BET is marked by a 39-year career with the company, during which he has played a key role in driving growth and transformation for the brand. Cheeks also praised Mills' legacy, citing his vision and exceptional leadership in shaping BET into the powerhouse it is today.
Mills joined BET in 1997 as senior vice president of business development and worked his way up to CEO in 2021. Under his leadership, the company underwent significant changes, including the launch of BET+, which grew to millions of subscribers, and expanded its digital footprint.
The transition marks a new chapter for BET under Carr's leadership, with Cheeks emphasizing the potential for innovation and growth in the years ahead.
After two and a half decades at the helm, BET Media Group President and CEO Scott Mills is departing. The news comes as part of a major shakeup following the formation of Paramount Skydance, which acquired Paramount Global earlier this year.
Mills' departure marks an end to his 23-year tenure at BET, during which he oversaw significant growth and transformation for the company. His exit follows four months after the acquisition of Paramount Global by David Ellison's Skydance Media.
Mills did not provide a reason for his departure in a memo to staff, instead choosing to focus on the accomplishments of the team and the brand. In the memo, Mills expressed gratitude for the support of employees, partners, and the community, acknowledging the incredible impact that BET has had on Black audiences over the years.
Louis Carr, currently president of media sales at BET, will take over as president of the company, reporting directly to George Cheeks, chair of TV media at Paramount Skydance. Carr will continue to serve as head of media sales and oversee the expansion of BET Studios under CBS Studios.
The new leadership comes as part of a broader strategy to drive innovation, influence, and cultural relevance in the years ahead. Under Mills' leadership, BET expanded its reach and influence, creating strategic partnerships and events that cemented its status as a leading entertainment brand.
Carr's tenure at BET is marked by a 39-year career with the company, during which he has played a key role in driving growth and transformation for the brand. Cheeks also praised Mills' legacy, citing his vision and exceptional leadership in shaping BET into the powerhouse it is today.
Mills joined BET in 1997 as senior vice president of business development and worked his way up to CEO in 2021. Under his leadership, the company underwent significant changes, including the launch of BET+, which grew to millions of subscribers, and expanded its digital footprint.
The transition marks a new chapter for BET under Carr's leadership, with Cheeks emphasizing the potential for innovation and growth in the years ahead.
... scott mills built bet into what it is today, but i feel like they're losing some of that edge now 
... luis carr's got a lot on his plate with media sales and studios, hope he can navigate the changes 
... still think bet has a bright future ahead of it, just gotta keep innovating and pushing boundaries 
I'm sad to see Scott Mills go 
. 23 years is a long time, but it's good that he's leaving on a high note and passing the torch to Louis Carr. Carr seems like a solid choice, all those years at BET under his belt is definitely a plus 
. I'm curious to see what changes will come with this new leadership 
. Mills may not have explained why he's leaving, but it's clear that the team is grateful for his vision and leadership 
. Now, let's hope Carr can keep the momentum going and take BET to even greater heights 
.
. But I guess it's time for a change of pace? Louis Carr seems like a solid replacement tho 
. I don't know if the new leadership is gonna take BET in a completely different direction or not though 
... maybe it'll be even better or maybe it'll suck 
. Either way, I'm intrigued to see what they got planned 
what a legacy he's built, i'm gonna miss seeing his name on the company's website btw, they really need to update their layout tho, it's still stuck on 2003 mode 
louis carr's been in the game for ages, hope he can bring new energy to the table 
. But Louis Carr is kinda cool, I've heard great things about him 
. Fingers crossed he can keep the magic going and take BET to even more new heights 
. And omg, have you guys seen the plans for BET+? Game-changing stuff 
he was an icon in my eyes 
23 years at BET is insane, I remember watching his interviews back in 2000s when the network first started gaining popularity 
but I gotta respect Louis Carr taking over, he seems like an experienced hand 
i think carr's got the know-how to keep bet relevant & growing 
i was just there like last night and it literally changed my life i mean the crust is so crispy and the sauce is on point i swear their pepperoni slices are like 3x bigger than every other spot i've been to lol anyway back to bet news...i feel bad for scott mills leaving tho he's done a lot with that brand over the years but congrats to louis carr on his new gig 
i mean carr has been with bet for like 39 yrs, thats some serious experience 
anyway, wish him all the best and hope he lands on his feet 
What's next for Louis Carr? I'm rooting for him to bring even more growth and innovation to the table 
, another company restructured... I mean what's next? 
. Guess that's progress... not 
and now luis carr takes over 
i think it's weird that he didn't say why he's leavin tho... still sounds like they're gonna do somethin new & interesting under louis carr