CHRISTINA NORMAN IS OUT AT MTV

The MTV President will step down after 17 years at the end of the month, with MTV Networks Music and Logo Group President Van Toffler picking up some of her duties for the time being.

An interoffice memo from Toffler praising her for "several brilliant reinventions, multiple VMAs and scores of memorable on-air promos and creative marketing campaigns" made the rounds today, catching everyone by surprise.

Norman started as a freelance production manager and ended up leading all the marketing efforts for MTV, including the successful debut of MTV2. In 2002, she was tapped to architect VH1's rebirth, launching "Celebreality" along with Hip-Hop Honors, shepherding the network to creative and ratings highs.

Writes Toffler: "She brought the same talent and vision when she returned to MTV as President, reinventing our big franchise events, The VMAs and The Movie Awards, ramping up new ways for us to partner with advertisers by creating and defining the brand vision for MTV that inspired us and helped liberate our thinking."

Norman is credited with the introduction of "thinkMTV," the promotional initiative "52 Bands," MTV Tr3s, the explosive growth of mtvU and helping increase the company's diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Continues Toffler: "Christina is leaving MTV in its strongest, healthiest, most diverse and vibrant incarnation. MTV's celebrated 16 years as the #1 ad-supported cable network for the 12-24 demo, and last year alone, MTV.com served up almost one billion videos. And there is more to come in the pipeline from the great team that we have in place."

Tofler explains Norman made clear that MTV's current creative vibrancy and thriving business provided her with the perfect timing to explore something new.

"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."