Michael Fricklas has been named chief legal officer at Advance Publications Inc., roughly one year after departing from media conglomerate Viacom Inc. where he began 25 years ago with a mission similar to the one he will have at Advance—help execute a string of major M&A deals.

Fricklas will lead legal and governmental affairs for Advance, a New York-based company that “operates and invests in a broad range of media” including titles like Conde Nast and American City Business Journals.