Skydance Communications Leadership Structure
Skydance Chief Communications Officer Melissa Zukerman announced her senior executive leadership team following the combination of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, according to Deadline.
Executives Retain Roles as Reporting Lines Remain Aligned
Laura Watson continues in her role as Deputy Chief Communications Officer at Paramount. Shannon Buck joins the team as Paramount’s former Head of Communications for Direct to Consumer. Virginia Fout joins Skydance as head of events after running her own company in the space. Deborah Marcus remains as Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, managing the company’s social impact and community initiatives.
To maintain close alignment across business segments, Chris Ender, Brooke Robertson, and Jeff Cusson maintain dotted-line reporting relationships to Zukerman’s leadership team as communications leads for Skydance TV, Studios, and direct-to-consumer operations.
Departing Executives Across Legacy Operations
Several communications leaders from the legacy companies are departing the combined organization. According to the internal memo, the departures include Joe Libonati, who supported Zukerman during the merger process; Arielle Falkowitz, Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations and Events at Warner Bros. Discovery; Megan Klein, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Warner Bros. Discovery; Adrienne O’Hara, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer at Warner Bros. Discovery; Karen Shosfy, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Paramount; Heather Wagoner, Senior Vice President of Internal Communications, Creative and Brand at Skydance; and Dennis Williams, Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Warner Bros. Discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Integration
What are the primary business priorities guiding the communications strategy?
Skydance co-CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz established three main priorities: positioning Skydance as a premier Hollywood content engine, accelerating the integrated direct-to-consumer platform, and optimizing the linear television portfolio anchored by CBS, as outlined by Zukerman.
How will the new direct-to-market function operate?
The newly formed Direct to Market function aims to expand executive storytelling across owned-and-operated platforms, utilizing new channels and digital formats to communicate directly with audiences rather than relying entirely on traditional PR channels.
Are additional executive announcements planned for the department?
Zukerman stated in her memo that the team is not yet finished building its operational roster, noting that dedicated leaders in Financial Communications and Product and Technology Communications will be added to support areas such as artificial intelligence tools for filmmakers and advertising sales.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have this A-list team in place – and we’re not done yet,
noted Zukerman regarding the ongoing department expansion.
Global Sports Group Appointments
Skydance Chairman of Global Sports Group David Berson announced internal team moves in an internal note on Thursday morning. Jeff Gerttula took on a newly created role as Executive Vice President and Managing Director, overseeing digital, international, strategy, and business development for sports, as well as serving as the point person with international sports teams. Bleacher Report General Manager Bennett Spector joined Gerttula’s team to continue overseeing Bleacher Report and House of Highlights, alongside Warner Bros. Discovery Senior Vice President of Digital League Business Operations, Growth & Innovation Yang Adija, who joined with a focus on digital strategy and operations. Dan Weinberg continued as Executive Vice President of Programming for programming strategy, rights acquisitions, program development, scheduling, and league partner relationships. Additional sports leadership team members include Patty Power as Executive Vice President of Operations and Engineering, Chris Carter as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kelly Dunne as Executive Vice President of Marketing, Jen Sabatelle as Executive Vice President of Communications, Bryn Berglund as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Doug Bernstein as Senior Vice President of Insights and Audience Strategy, Kevin Glidewell as Senior Vice President of Legal, and Deanna O’Toole as Senior Vice President of Business Affairs.
CFO Sends Memo Regarding Staff Relocations
Skydance CFO Dennis Cinelli—previously Paramount Skydance’s CFO—sent a memo to staff regarding staff relocations.
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