Ellison Finalises Paramount Leadership After Skydance Merger

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David Ellison has completed the executive overhaul of Paramount Global following the company’s merger with Skydance, reinforcing his vision to transform the studio into a competitive next-generation media powerhouse.

The merger, expected to close on Thursday, has brought several new names into Paramount’s upper ranks, including Don Granger as President of the Motion Picture Group and Matt Thunell as President of Paramount Television Studios. Jane Wiseman will now lead streaming originals as Executive Vice President.

Kevin MacLellan will head international and content distribution, while Rebecca Mall takes the reins of cross-company initiatives, franchise, and corporate marketing.

Five more senior appointments were confirmed at the EVP level: Kevin Creighton (corporate finance and investor relations), Tony Driscoll (corporate strategy and development), Efrain Miron (direct-to-consumer content strategy and licensing), Jose Turkienicz (global operations), and Laura Watson (corporate and executive communications).

“These new members of the senior management team bring fresh perspectives shaped by years of industry experience,” said David Ellison in a company statement. “At a time of incredible opportunity for Paramount and our industry, I’m confident these forward-minded leaders will propel our vision and reignite a shared sense of purpose and ambition throughout our teams.”

This announcement follows Ellison’s earlier reveal of Paramount’s new C-suite on Monday and its revamped board on Tuesday.

Don Granger’s appointment reflects Paramount’s intent to steady its motion picture division with experienced leadership. With over 35 years in the industry, Granger has held senior roles at United Artists and Paramount Pictures. At Skydance, he oversaw several box office successes, including Top Gun: Maverick, The Tomorrow War, and entries in the Mission: Impossible franchise.

He is also the executive producer of Amazon’s hit series Reacher, which premiered in 2022. A Yale graduate and member of both the Producers Guild and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Granger brings heavyweight credentials to Paramount’s film slate strategy.

The sweeping appointments highlight the growing influence of Skydance personnel within the merged structure. Ellison, who now serves as Chairman and CEO, appears to be surrounding himself with trusted figures as he seeks to overhaul Paramount’s longstanding corporate culture and position it for renewed relevance in a fragmented media market.

Under Ellison’s leadership, the new team is expected to prioritise global content distribution, strengthen streaming output, and rejuvenate Paramount’s legacy franchises, a strategy with a clear focus amid current industry shifts.