The Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery deal is entering its expected closing stage with a newly named leadership group. David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz will divide strategy and integration duties, while executives from both companies take senior roles across film, television, streaming, finance, product and corporate operations.
Key Takeaways
- Paramount announced its CEO Leadership Team on Oct. 5, one day before the transaction’s anticipated Oct. 6 closing
- David Ellison will focus on long-term strategy, creative direction, technology and partnerships, while Ynon Kreiz will oversee day-to-day management and integration
- Andy Gordon is expected to serve as president, with senior executives also named across finance, legal, product, marketing and communications
- Casey Bloys, George Cheeks, JB Perrette, Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein are among the executives assigned major content and operating roles
- Paramount said a complete Executive Leadership Team will be announced after the transaction closes
Paramount Leadership Team Sets the Operating Structure
Paramount Skydance named the senior leadership group expected to run the combined company on Oct. 5, giving the Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery deal a defined management structure ahead of its anticipated closing.
The combined company is expected to operate as Skydance, with Ellison serving as chairman and chief executive and Kreiz serving as co-chief executive. Members of the newly announced CEO Leadership Team are expected to report directly to the two executives.
Kreiz formally joined Paramount on Oct. 5 after serving as chairman and CEO of Mattel. Paramount’s SEC filing confirms that its board appointed him co-chief executive and a director effective that day. The filing also states that Ellison remains Paramount’s sole principal executive officer before completion of the transaction.
Andy Gordon is expected to become president of Skydance and work with Ellison and Kreiz on companywide priorities. Gordon has been serving as Paramount’s chief strategy officer and chief operating officer.
The corporate leadership group also includes Dennis Cinelli as chief financial officer, Makan Delrahim as chief legal officer and president of global corporate affairs, Dane Glasgow as chief product officer, Rebecca Mall as chief marketing officer and Melissa Zukerman as chief communications officer.
The reporting structure places formal responsibilities around a large integration process where executive alignment during transformations can affect how priorities, decision rights and operating responsibilities are communicated across an organization.
Paramount has stopped short of presenting the Oct. 5 announcement as its complete post-closing management roster. The company said a full Executive Leadership Team will be released after the transaction closes.
Ellison and Kreiz Split Strategy and Integration Duties
The most notable feature of the new structure is the division of responsibilities between Paramount’s two top executives.
Ellison is expected to focus on long-term corporate strategy, creative direction, talent relationships, strategic partnerships, technology and capital allocation. Kreiz will concentrate on day-to-day management and integrating the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery businesses.
Ellison previously described the arrangement as “a division of labor built on our complementary strengths.”
The structure gives Kreiz a substantial operational mandate as the companies prepare to combine businesses spanning studios, television networks, streaming platforms and other entertainment operations.
Kreiz previously led Mattel and earlier held senior leadership positions at Maker Studios and Endemol Group. His appointment followed Paramount’s announcement that he would join the company immediately before the expected merger closing.
The split also provides another example of CEO leadership strategies that assign different operating briefs to senior executives rather than concentrating every strategic and execution responsibility in a single role.
Paramount’s Feb. 27 merger agreement set the transaction consideration at $31 in cash for each outstanding Warner Bros. Discovery share. Paramount later reported that the amount represented an equity value of approximately $80.9 billion when the agreement was signed, while the companies described the transaction as carrying an enterprise value of approximately $110 billion.
Because the transaction remained open after Sept. 30, the agreement provides additional consideration measured daily. Warner Bros. Discovery said the amount would equal $31 plus $0.00277778 per share for every calendar day from Oct. 1 through the closing date.
The companies said on Sept. 30 that they expected to close the transaction on Oct. 6, subject to customary closing conditions.
Film, TV and Streaming Roles Define the New Organization
Paramount’s leadership announcement also establishes who is expected to oversee several of the combined company’s largest entertainment businesses.
Casey Bloys is expected to become co-chair and chief content officer of Skydance’s direct-to-consumer division. His responsibilities are expected to include original programming for HBO Max and Paramount+, along with programming strategy and related operations.
JB Perrette is expected to serve as co-chair and chief business officer for both the direct-to-consumer and television divisions. His responsibilities are set to include global distribution, advertising sales, content sales, strategy, marketing and business operations.
George Cheeks is expected to become co-chair and chief content officer of Skydance TV. Paramount said the television organization would include Warner Bros. Television Studios, CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios, along with the CBS network, local television stations, sports operations and cable networks.
Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein are expected to serve as co-chairs of the Skydance Motion Picture Group, placing them over the company’s major film operations. James Gunn and Peter Safran are expected to remain co-chairmen of DC Studios.
The structure creates separate leadership lanes for creative oversight and business operations across streaming and television while retaining established leaders in several Warner Bros. Discovery businesses.
It also identifies a senior operating framework before the transaction formally closes. Paramount has indicated that additional executive appointments will follow once the combination is completed.
If the anticipated Oct. 6 timetable is met, the Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery deal will enter its integration phase with its top reporting structure already identified. The next organizational details are expected to come through the broader Executive Leadership Team that Paramount said it would announce after closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery deal expected to close?
The Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery deal is expected to close on Oct. 6, 2026. Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have said the date remains subject to customary closing conditions.
Who will lead the combined Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery company?
David Ellison is expected to serve as chairman and CEO of the combined company, while Ynon Kreiz will serve as co-CEO. Andy Gordon is expected to become president and work closely with both executives.
What responsibilities will Ynon Kreiz have?
Kreiz is expected to oversee day-to-day management and integration of the combined businesses. Ellison will concentrate on areas including long-term strategy, creative direction, technology, partnerships and capital allocation.
Who will oversee film and streaming operations?
Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein are expected to co-lead the motion picture group. Casey Bloys is expected to oversee content for the direct-to-consumer business, while JB Perrette will hold business leadership responsibilities across both streaming and television.
Has Paramount announced its complete executive team?
No. The Oct. 5 announcement covered the CEO Leadership Team expected to lead the combined company. Paramount said a complete Executive Leadership Team would be announced after closing.
