Paramount Global is poised to finalize its transformative merger with Skydance Media on Thursday, ushering in a new chapter for the iconic media conglomerate under the leadership of David Ellison, Skydance’s founder, and with significant financial backing from his father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
This strategic alliance marks a pivotal moment for Paramount as it navigates an evolving media landscape increasingly dominated by streaming and digital platforms.
David Ellison will spearhead the new leadership team, joined by Jeff Shell, the former CEO of NBCUniversal, who brings extensive industry expertise from his tenure at RedBird Capital, Skydance’s key partner in this acquisition.
A significant appointment in this transition is Cindy Holland, a former Netflix executive who played a critical advisory role in the merger. Holland has been tapped to lead Paramount’s direct-to-consumer division, overseeing the company’s streaming platforms, including Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Her appointment comes with the departure of Tom Ryan, the executive who co-founded Pluto TV and was instrumental in its rise as a leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service.
Holland now faces the formidable task of steering Paramount’s streaming ambitions, which are central to the company’s future growth strategy. With streaming services like Paramount+ and Pluto TV being critical pillars, her experience at Netflix—where she helped build its original content powerhouse—will be vital in maintaining and expanding Paramount’s digital footprint in a crowded and rapidly changing market.