New York CNN —Paramount Global on Monday parted ways with its chief executive, Bob Bakish, in a seismic move that sent reverberations through the media conglomerate as it actively engages in acquisition talks with Skydance Media.
In place of Bakish, who led the company since controlling shareholder Shari Redstone reunited Viacom and CBS Corporation under one roof in 2019, will be a triumvirate of leaders: Brian Robbins, chief executive of Paramount Pictures; Chris McCarthy, chief executive of Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios; and George Cheeks, chief executive of CBS.
In an attempt to stave off declining cable revenues, Paramount has spent billions of dollars building its own streaming service, Paramount+.
Supporters of the Skydance deal hope that merging Paramount with the Ellison-led company will change its fortunes.
Those shareholders have argued the deal primarily benefits Redstone and they have encouraged Paramount’s board to evaluate other options.
Persons:
Bob Bakish, Bakish, Shari Redstone, Brian Robbins, Chris McCarthy, George Cheeks, Bob, ” Redstone, David Ellison, Larry Ellison, Ellison, Skydance, Jeff Shell
Organizations:
New, New York CNN, Paramount Global, Skydance Media, Viacom, CBS Corporation, Paramount Pictures, Showtime, MTV Entertainment Studios, CBS, Paramount, Skydance, CNN, BET, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy, Netflix
Locations:
New York, Redstone, Skydance