David Ellison Sets His Team: These Are the People Who Will Run the New Paramount
With Skydance's deal to acquire the media company set to close later this week, the mogul has officially named his senior leadership team at the company, the people who will run the new Paramount, which will have three segments: Studios, direct-to-consumer, and TV media.
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'I'm thrilled to introduce our new executive leadership team — backed by deep industry experience, proven track records, and a shared commitment to excellence, this world-class team is uniquely equipped to rise to the occasion and deliver on our bold vision for a new Paramount,' Ellison said in a statement. 'Each member was chosen to align with our goals and with the intention to drive transformation. Together, we will foster an environment where creative and technical talent collaborate seamlessly, marrying leading technologies with powerful storytelling and artistic vision to unlock Paramount's full potential and help shape the future of our industry.'
As previously announced, former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell will be president of the new Paramount. But joining him will be Andy Gordon, who had been leading RedBird Capital's Los Angeles office, who will become COO of the company. RedBird, which is providing financial capital to support the Skydance deal, has also most recently employed Shell.
As expected, current Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks, who has also been leading the CBS business, will remain with the company as chair of TV media, adding oversight of the company's cable TV channels.
Cindy Holland, the former Netflix scripted TV chief, will lead new Paramount's streaming businesses, including Paramount+ and Pluto. Holland has been a Skydance advisor since last year.
Jim Sterner will join from Amazon Entertainment to lead human resources. Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon will be general counsel, and Melissa Zukerman will be chief communications officer. Andrew Warren will continue as interim CFO of the company.
Skydance chief content officer Dana Goldberg and former Sony Pictures exec Josh Greenstein will lead the new Paramount studio as co-chairs.
Goldberg, a widely respected creative exec, will run the film studio in tandem with Greenstein, who worked with Ellison and Goldberg for years when running marketing for Paramount before departing for Sony, where he most recently served as co-president of the Motion Picture Group alongside Sanford Panitch. Greenstein and Goldberg will be replacing Brian Robbins, who was never expected to stay.
It's an open secret that Greenstein wanted more power at Sony, but chances of that happening at Sony became a no-go when movie chief chairman Tom Rothman's contract was renewed earlier this year. At Paramount, Greenstein will have the dual title of vice chair of platforms, while Goldberg will have additional oversight of TV as chair of Paramount TV.
Greenstein rose up through the Hollywood studio system on the marketing and distribution side of the aisle. But as co-president of Sony's Motion Picture Group — sources say his last day in that job was Aug. 1 — Greenstein gained oversight of the creative process as well. This has given him ammunition to fight against being cast as just a marketing guy.
Shell, the incoming president, was most recently working with RedBird Capital, Skydance's financial partner in the Paramount takeover, and before that was the CEO of NBCUniversal. Shell was forced out of NBCUniversal in 2023 after acknowledging an inappropriate relationship with an employee at the company.
Cheeks, the lone holdover from the former Paramount's office of the CEO, is an attorney by trade, and began his entertainment career as a lawyer and business affairs executive at Viacom. It was at NBCUniversal where he added more creative responsibilities, rising to co-chairman of entertainment, before joining Paramount in 2020 to lead CBS.
Holland instantly lends streaming credibility to the company, having previously led English scripted TV at Netflix, before exiting in 2020. She has been advising Skydance since late last year, however her new role gives her formal oversight of Paramount's streaming businesses, a top priority for the company under Ellison.
Pamela McClintock contributed to this report.
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