Skydance’s David Ellison Announces New Paramount Board Directors Ahead of Merger
David Ellison has revealed the proposed lineup of 10 new board directors who will serve following the imminent closure of Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount Global this week. The announcement marks a significant shift in leadership for the iconic entertainment company.
Key Leadership Appointments
David Ellison is positioned to assume the role of chairman and CEO of the newly merged Paramount studio. In a notable appointment, former Paramount Pictures head Sherry Lansing will join as an independent director, bringing her extensive industry experience to the board.
Notable Board Members and Structure
- Safra A. Catz – Oracle Corp CEO
- Barbara Byrne – Former Barclays PLC vice chairman (continuing from previous board)
- Gerry Cardinale – RedBird Capital Partners founder and managing partner
- John L. Thornton – RedBird Capital Partners chairman
- Andy Gordon – Future chief strategy officer and COO
- Jeff Shell – Future Paramount president
- Justin G. Hamill – Silver Lake managing director and chief legal officer
- Paul Marinelli – Lawrence Investments LLC president
New Organizational Structure
The restructured Paramount will operate across three main segments:
- Studios
- Direct-to-consumer
- TV media
Strategic Leadership Transition
Former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell will step into the role of president at the new Paramount, while Andy Gordon transitions from leading RedBird Capital’s Los Angeles office to become chief strategy officer and COO. RedBird Capital is providing crucial financial backing for the Skydance acquisition.
Statement from David Ellison
“We are thrilled and honored to welcome this truly outstanding group of director-designees to our Board,” stated Ellison. “They are dynamic leaders whose impact spans industries and whose reputations resonate across the business world globally. The legacy of Paramount is one of our greatest strategic assets and it is our strong desire and fiduciary duty to honor that history while positioning the business for sustained value creation.”
The current Paramount Global directors will step down upon completion of the merger, making way for this new era of leadership at one of Hollywood’s most storied studios.