MTV is looking for a new legal chief for its emerging markets division following the departure of the group's business and legal affairs head Robert Cummins.

Cummins (pictured) had been with the entertainment giant for almost two years after joining from technology company Sapient in October 2006.

Roger James, MTV's head of legal for international and the UK, has now kicked off the search for a replacement to head the 12-strong team, which has lawyers based in the UK, Poland, Hungary and South Africa.

Cummins's departure last week follows a restructuring of MTV Networks International (MTVNI) last year that saw the London-based corporate centre reduced and much of the channel's production function relocated to Poland.

The legal team helped launch two MTVNI channels this year with Nickelodeon Polska and Nickeledeon Arabiya beginning transmission in July. A third emerging markets channel, Comedy Central Hungary, is poised for launch next month.

MTV's emerging markets division works closely with White & Case in Poland and the Czech Republic, Linklaters for trademark litigation work in Hungary and Field Fisher Waterhouse in London.

Prior to joining MTV, Cummins spent two years in private practice with Simmons & Simmons and five years in-house at BBC Worldwide.

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