4
Ynon Kreiz
Incoming Co-CEO
2026 – Present
0 years (current)
Legacy
Known primarily for his massive turnaround at Mattel, he frequently advises media conglomerates on IP monetization.
Paramount Skydance Corporation
Media and entertainmentFounded 1912- HQ today: New York, New York and Los Angeles, California, United States
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026
Leadership History
Paramount: CEO History
4 leaders · 2006 to present
Who is the CEO of Paramount?
David Ellison is the CEO of Paramount, in the role since 2025. The first chief executive was Philippe Dauman, from 2006.
- Current CEO
- David Ellison (since 2025)
- First CEO
- Philippe Dauman (2006)
- Leaders documented
- 4
- Founded
- 1912
| Name | Role | From | To | Years in role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ynon Kreiz | Incoming Co-CEO | 2026 | Present | < 1 |
| David Ellison | Chairman and CEO | 2025 | Present | 1 |
| Bob Bakish | President and Chief Executive Officer | 2019 | 2024 | 5 |
| Philippe Dauman | President and Chief Executive Officer, Viacom | 2006 | 2016 | 10 |
Company Overview
Paramount Skydance is the successor to Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). The Skydance merger closed on August 7, 2025, ending Redstone family control and putting David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, in charge. The company owns Paramount Pictures, CBS, Paramount+, Pluto TV, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and BET, and is about to absorb Warner Bros. Discovery. The company is headquartered in New York City, New York. Paramount Global traces its origins to the Famous Players Film Company founded in May 1912 in Hollywood/New York by Adolph Zukor, Jesse L. Lasky, and Cecil B. DeMille, evolving through Viacom, CBS, and the Redstone family's National Amusements before agreeing to an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media in 2024.
Paramount Skydance makes money in three segments. TV Media, the largest, earns advertising on CBS and cable networks such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and BET, plus affiliate and retransmission fees paid by pay-TV distributors; it is shrinking as households cut the cord (Q2 2026 TV Media revenue fell 9% to $3.13 billion). Direct-to-Consumer earns subscription and advertising revenue from Paramount+, BET+ and the free ad-supported Pluto TV (Q2 2026 revenue up 9% to $2.47 billion). Filmed Entertainment earns theatrical, home entertainment and licensing revenue from Paramount Pictures and Skydance productions (Q2 2026 revenue up 16% to $1.31 billion). By revenue type, Q2 2026 split into $3.52 billion of affiliate and subscription, $1.96 billion of advertising, $1.30 billion of licensing and other, and $138 million of theatrical.
3
David Ellison
Chairman and CEO
2025 – Present
1 year (current)
Key Decisions & Impact
Expanded the annual film slate from eight to 15 titles, unified Paramount+ and Pluto TV technology, and agreed to buy WBD for $31 per share.
Legacy
Founded Skydance Media in 2010 and produced films including Top Gun: Maverick and the Mission: Impossible series. Led the 2025 Skydance-Paramount merger, launched a roughly $3 billion cost-savings program and negotiated the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
2
Bob Bakish
President and Chief Executive Officer
2019 – 2024
5 years
Key Decisions & Impact
Bakish executed the highly aggressive, absolutely desperate strategy to rebrand ViacomCBS as Paramount Global and launch Paramount+, attempting to heavily pivot the massive legacy cable business into the streaming era.
Legacy
Serving as CEO until his abrupt firing by Shari Redstone in 2024, he struggled immensely to save the company from the catastrophic collapse of its core cable television revenue (MTV, Nickelodeon).
1
Philippe Dauman
President and Chief Executive Officer, Viacom
2006 – 2016
10 years
Key Decisions & Impact
Dauman became chief executive of Viacom in September 2006.
Legacy
He left in August 2016 after a dispute with the Redstone family over control of the company. Bob Bakish succeeded him.
Challenges & Strategic Context
The main pressures are structural decline in linear TV advertising and affiliate fees, rising sports rights costs, and the scale gap with Netflix, Disney and Amazon. The Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition adds a new layer: the deal is financed largely with debt, including more than $41 billion of senior secured notes priced in 2026, and the state AG settlement commits the combined company to theatrical output minimums, $300 million of extra annual U.S. production spend and an editorial independence board for CBS News and CNN.
Paramount CEO and Leadership FAQ
Who is David Ellison and what is his role as CEO of Paramount Skydance Corporation?
David Ellison is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Skydance Corporation, assuming leadership following the Skydance-Paramount merger. An accomplished film producer, licensed pilot, and son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, David founded Skydance Media in 2006 and produced numerous multi-billion-dollar blockbuster films.
Who was Bob Bakish and what did he accomplish as CEO of Paramount Global?
Bob Bakish served as CEO of Viacom from 2016 and led the reunited ViacomCBS (later Paramount Global) from 2019 until April 2024. Bakish orchestrated the recombination of CBS and Viacom, acquired Pluto TV for $340 million, launched Paramount+, and scaled global streaming subscribers to over 70 million.
What was the Office of the CEO that briefly led Paramount in 2024?
Following the departure of Bob Bakish in April 2024, Paramount was temporarily led by an interim 'Office of the CEO' triumvirate consisting of division heads George Cheeks (President & CEO, CBS), Chris McCarthy (President & CEO, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios), and Brian Robbins (President & CEO, Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon).
What well-known role did Sumner Redstone play in the history of Viacom and Paramount?
Media leader Sumner Redstone built the modern media empire through his holding company, National Amusements. Redstone executed historic hostile takeovers of Viacom in 1987, Paramount Pictures in 1994 (for $10 billion), and CBS in 1999, famously championing the business doctrine that 'Content is King.'
Who is Shari Redstone and what was her leadership impact on Paramount?
Shari Redstone, daughter of Sumner Redstone, served as Non-Executive Chairwoman of Paramount Global and President of National Amusements. She successfully reunified Viacom and CBS in 2019, defended the company through the streaming transition, and ultimately negotiated the historic sale to Skydance Media.
Who was Philippe Dauman and what was his tenure at Viacom?
Philippe Dauman served as CEO of Viacom from 2006 to 2016 as a longtime confidant of Sumner Redstone. His tenure was marked by strong cable financial performance followed by contentious board battles, shareholder lawsuits, and declining ratings amid the initial rise of cord-cutting.
Who was Leslie Moonves and what was his impact on CBS?
Leslie Moonves served as Chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation from 2006 until 2018. Under his programming leadership, CBS became 'America's Most Watched Network' with large procedural hit franchises (CSI, NCIS, The Big Bang Theory) before his departure in 2018.
What is David Ellison's executive leadership team at Paramount Skydance?
David Ellison's senior leadership team includes former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell serving as President of Paramount Skydance, alongside seasoned creative and financial executives from Skydance, RedBird Capital, and legacy Paramount divisions.
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