A number of television executives have been affected by the major round of layoffs at Paramount, the first since the company was established by the $8.4 billion merger of Paramount Global and Skydance in August.
With Paramount Global’s headcount at 18,600 globally as of the end of 2024, dwarfing that of Skydance (about 1,300), the vast majority of the cuts are coming from the Paramount side. In addition to TV, names are already emerging in the motion picture division and at CBS News.
As has been the case with legacy companies over the past several years, the linear networks and marketing/distribution are heavily impacted. In a memo sent out late Wednesday afternoon, Paramount’s TV Media chair George Cheeks, who oversees CBS and Paramount Media Networks, acknowledged the emotions staff were feeling at the end of what he called “one of the most difficult days.” (Read the email in full below.)
Among those leaving is Teri Fleming, EVP and head of marketing for Paramount Global Content Distribution. She is a company veteran who previously spent more than a decade as SVP Marketing for CBS Studios International.
Veteran CBS current executive Pamela Soper is exiting after more than 20 years at the network. Soper, most recently SVP, Current Programming, CBS Entertainment, has overseen series including The Neighborhood, Bob Hearts Abishola, Mom, The Good Fight and Your Honor.
Also in current, Amanda Palley is leaving. Palley, who is SVP, Current Programming, CBS Entertainment, has been with the company for over 11 years. She has worked on series including The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Creative executive Rose Catherine Pinkney, who has been with BET for nearly 10 years, is impacted. Pinkney was most recently SVP, Scripted Programming and Development, working on series including Average Joe, The Ms. Pat Show, and Real Husbands of Hollywood.
Also at BET, leaving is Robi Reed, SVP, Talent & Casting, Original Programming, after over 20 years. An Emmy Award and NAACP Image Award-winning casting director, she cast such series as Diarra from Detroit, First Wives Club, Ms. Pat Show, Boomerang, and the miniseries The Bobby Brown Story.
As rumored over the past few weeks, MTV is putting its music video legacy in the rear-view mirror, with the network’s music team disbanded and Wendy Plaut, SVP and Head of Music & Celebrity Talent, departing. She has been at Paramount for almost more than 27 years and was the executive in charge of celebrity talent for the company’s Video Music Awards.
Amanda Culkowski, VP, Music Program Development and Documentaries at MTV/Paramount+, is also impacted. Culkowski has been with the company for over six years, having joined from AMC Networks. She was responsible for developing original music and talent-driven series for MTV’s networks and Paramount+ and has worked on projects including Hip Hop My House and Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza.
Elsewhere at the cable group, Margaret Comeaux, who is SVP, Music and Events Production for CMT, is exiting. Comeaux has been with the company for nearly 25 years and oversees tentpole events and music specials including the CMT Music Awards.
Paramount+ has also been hit. Jeff Grossman, who is EVP, Programming, is exiting after around 15 years at the company. He led content, planning, scheduling, acquisitions, merchandising and operations for the streamer. He was promoted in 2023, having previously been EVP, content and business operations for Paramount Streaming. Patricia Kollappallil, who was SVP, Corporate Communications, is also out, having held the role for the last two and a half years, after a similar time spent at Showtime. Additionally, leaving is Gregory Heller, VP, Brand and Program Marketing for Paramount+. He spent nearly 14 years at the company across Paramount+ and Showtime, overseeing marketing campaigns for such series as the Dexter franchise, Yellowjackets, The Chi, Shameless, Ray Donovan and Twin Peaks: The Return.
Amy Campbell, Chief Marketing Officer, Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios, is also leaving. Campbell worked across brands such as MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Comedy Central, Paramount and Smithsonian Channel, and told colleagues last week that she had decided to “step away” from her role.
Among those departing is Rob Brofman, EVP, Paramount Kids & Family and Paramount Global Content Acquisition Business & Legal Affairs.
Andrea Ballas, VP, Communications, CBS Entertainment, is also affected. Ballas has been with the company for over 27 years, working on shows such as Matlock, Ghosts, NCIS, Two and a Half Men, Mom, Mike & Molly, Bob Hearts Abishola, 2 Broke Girls and CSI. Recently, she was also instrumental is getting Paramount+ to board The Children of October 7, bringing the project to the attention of Shari Redstone after she met activist and dancer Montana Tucker.
“To everyone impacted: your contributions have left a lasting imprint on our company. You’ve made us better, and we are deeply grateful,” Cheeks said in his memo, noting that “while these decisions are incredibly difficult, they are part of the changes needed to help Paramount move forward as a strong, future-focused company as we navigate a rapidly changing industry.”
We will update the story with more exits when they are confirmed.
Paramount Skydance predecessor Paramount Global went through multiple waves of layoffs in preparation for the merger.
The most recent in June cut 2.5% of the overall Paramount workforce. The many areas affected across the company included Comedy Central, MTV, BET, kids and adult animation, business development operations, franchises and consumer products as well CBS Studios casting.
The previous one in August 2024, which reduced Paramount Global’s U.S. staff by 15%, included the shutdown of Paramount Television Studios, with the majority of its team laid off. (The moniker was revived after the merger with a new streaming-focused production unit.)
Paramount is laying off about 1,000 staffers today, with an additional thousand to follow. The vast majority of the affected employees are based in the U.S., with international divisions planning cuts in the coming weeks.
“In some areas, we are addressing redundancies that have emerged across the organization. In others, we are phasing out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities and the new structure designed to strengthen our focus on growth,” Paramount CEO David Ellison wrote in a memo about the layoffs this morning. “Ultimately, these steps are necessary to position Paramount for long-term success.”
The cuts, come as the leadership of the merged company promised Wall Street after the transaction that they would deliver $2 billion in cost savings, including through workforce reductions.
On the spending side, Paramount Global on the eve of the transaction spent $1.5 billion on South Park streaming rights and its creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Paramount post-merger committed $7.7 billion for exclusive rights to the UFC, made a mega deal with the Duffer brothers and has been bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery.
Here is Cheeks’ email:
Team,
Today has been one of the most difficult days, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the emotions we are all feeling. We are saying goodbye to many valued colleagues, some of whom have been part of Paramount Media Networks or CBS for decades, helping shape the culture, creativity, and legacy we all share. To everyone impacted: your contributions have left a lasting imprint on our company. You’ve made us better, and we are deeply grateful.
While these decisions are incredibly difficult, they are part of the changes needed to help Paramount move forward as a strong, future-focused company as we navigate a rapidly changing industry. This means making tough decisions, including reducing the size of our workforce – choices that affect people who have contributed meaningfully to our success. We recognize the weight of this moment and remain committed to supporting our colleagues through this transition.
Please take the time you need to process, reflect, and support one another. This team has always shown resilience, compassion, and strength. I have no doubt you will continue to do so in the days ahead.
Thank you for your continued dedication and your care for each other as we navigate this together.George
