Philippe Dauman
Encyclopedia
Philippe Dauman is the President and CEO of Viacom
. He has served at this post since September 2006. Dauman is a longtime associate of the company's chairman Sumner Redstone
. Dauman served from 1994 to 2000 as a member of Viacom's executive committee and as executive vice president in charge of strategic transactions, legal and government affairs, human resources and administration, supervising Paramount Pictures
Entertainment, Showtime Networks
and Simon & Schuster
. Dauman was also a director at Redstone-owned CBS Corporation
until September 2006.
From 1993 to 1998, he also was Viacom's general counsel.
In 2009, Dauman and Viacom launched the Get Schooled education initiative with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- an effort to raise awareness of the crisis in America's public schools. He also hosted the Get Schooled education conference on September 8, 2009.
Dauman is a director of Lafarge
, and on the Board of Directors of the KIPP Foundation, a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in underserved communities. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
, a member of the Business Roundtable
and serves on the Executive Committee of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association
, the Board of Trustees for The Paley Center for Media, the Board of Trustees of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Foundation, the Executive Committee of the Lenox Hill Hospital
and the Board of Trustees and Dean’s Council of Columbia University School of Law
.
. At Yale University
he fell in love with his roommate's sister, who would become his wife.
Dauman graduated from Columbia University School of Law
in 1978 and went to work for the law firm of Shearman & Sterling
, where he earned $25,000 as an associate. After two years in the firm's Paris office, he returned to New York to work in the corporate group under partner Stephen Volk. Handling a routine Securities and Exchange Commission form 13D filing for Volk client Sumner Redstone
(also a poker player) in 1986 led to an advisory role in Redstone's 1987 hostile takeover of Viacom, a close personal relationship with Redstone, and a seat on Viacom’s board of directors
.
Six years later, Dauman accepted an offer to join Viacom as senior vice president and general counsel
, in exchange for $553,000 in salary with a $900,000 bonus. In 1994 he earned $2.3 million, plus options worth millions more.
Dauman took a tough stance on the reproduction of Viacom's content when Viacom sued You Tube in March 2007. Dauman discussed copyright issues with YouTube
co-founder Chad Hurley and was interested in working out a deal. Dauman and Chad could not agree over advertising terms however.
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
. He has served at this post since September 2006. Dauman is a longtime associate of the company's chairman Sumner Redstone
Sumner Redstone
Sumner Murray Redstone is an American media magnate. He is the majority owner and Chairman of the Board of the National Amusements theater chain...
. Dauman served from 1994 to 2000 as a member of Viacom's executive committee and as executive vice president in charge of strategic transactions, legal and government affairs, human resources and administration, supervising Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
Entertainment, Showtime Networks
Showtime Networks
Showtime Networks, Inc. is the corporate division of media conglomerate CBS Corporation.The company was established in 1983 as Showtime/The Movie Channel, Inc. after Viacom and Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment merged their premium channels, Showtime and The Movie Channel respectively, into one...
and Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
. Dauman was also a director at Redstone-owned CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
until September 2006.
From 1993 to 1998, he also was Viacom's general counsel.
In 2009, Dauman and Viacom launched the Get Schooled education initiative with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It is "driven by the interests and passions of the Gates family"...
- an effort to raise awareness of the crisis in America's public schools. He also hosted the Get Schooled education conference on September 8, 2009.
Dauman is a director of Lafarge
Lafarge
Lafarge is a French industrial company specialising in four major products: cement, construction aggregates, concrete and gypsum wallboard. In 2010 the company was the world's second-largest cement manufacturer by mass shipped behind Holcim.-History:...
, and on the Board of Directors of the KIPP Foundation, a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in underserved communities. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
, a member of the Business Roundtable
Business Roundtable
The Business Roundtable is a politically conservative group of chief executive officers of major U.S. corporations formed to promote pro-business public policy.-History:...
and serves on the Executive Committee of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association
National Cable & Telecommunications Association
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable TV industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation’s cable households and more than 200 cable program networks, as well as equipment suppliers and providers...
, the Board of Trustees for The Paley Center for Media, the Board of Trustees of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Foundation, the Executive Committee of the Lenox Hill Hospital
Lenox Hill Hospital
Lenox Hill Hospital, on Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City, is a 652-bed, acute care hospital and a major teaching affiliate of New York University Medical Center. Founded in 1857 as the German Dispensary, today's 10-building Lenox Hill Hospital complex has occupied its present site since...
and the Board of Trustees and Dean’s Council of Columbia University School of Law
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
.
Early life and career
Dauman grew up in New York City, the son of Life magazine photographer Henri Dauman. At age 13, he earned 1600, then the highest possible score, on the SATSAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
. At Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
he fell in love with his roommate's sister, who would become his wife.
Dauman graduated from Columbia University School of Law
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1978 and went to work for the law firm of Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City with 20 offices located in major financial centers around the world founded in 1873. It is well known for both its litigation and transactional capabilities, especially in International Arbitration, Capital Markets, Finance, and...
, where he earned $25,000 as an associate. After two years in the firm's Paris office, he returned to New York to work in the corporate group under partner Stephen Volk. Handling a routine Securities and Exchange Commission form 13D filing for Volk client Sumner Redstone
Sumner Redstone
Sumner Murray Redstone is an American media magnate. He is the majority owner and Chairman of the Board of the National Amusements theater chain...
(also a poker player) in 1986 led to an advisory role in Redstone's 1987 hostile takeover of Viacom, a close personal relationship with Redstone, and a seat on Viacom’s board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
.
Six years later, Dauman accepted an offer to join Viacom as senior vice president and general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
, in exchange for $553,000 in salary with a $900,000 bonus. In 1994 he earned $2.3 million, plus options worth millions more.
Dauman took a tough stance on the reproduction of Viacom's content when Viacom sued You Tube in March 2007. Dauman discussed copyright issues with YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
co-founder Chad Hurley and was interested in working out a deal. Dauman and Chad could not agree over advertising terms however.