Brian Robbins told Paramount employees he will step down as co-chief executive once the studio’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media closes on Thursday, ending an eight-year run that reshaped both Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon.
The Aug. 6 memo describes the change as “bittersweet” and says the company is “in exceptionally capable hands” under Skydance founder David Ellison, who will take the helm of the merged entity. The departure comes weeks after fellow co-leader Chris McCarthy resigned, leaving George Cheeks as the sole member of the three-person team appointed in April 2024 after Bob Bakish’s ouster.
Robbins arrived at Viacom in 2017 to launch Paramount Players, became Nickelodeon chief a year later and took over Paramount Pictures in 2021, overseeing 17 box-office chart-toppers such as “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Mission: Impossible” and “Sonic the Hedgehog.” He was elevated to co-CEO in April 2024 alongside Cheeks and McCarthy.
Ellison intends to split the combined company into studios, direct-to-consumer and TV media. Long-time lieutenant Dana Goldberg and former Sony executive Josh Greenstein will run Paramount Pictures, with Don Granger named motion-pictures president, while Cheeks keeps oversight of CBS and the cable portfolio.
Robbins exits amid uneven results: Paramount’s filmed-entertainment division posted an $84 million loss in the second quarter, even as theatrical revenue jumped 84 percent on the strength of “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.” Observers say the leadership shift was expected as Skydance prepares to finalize its $8.4 billion takeover, approved by regulators late last month.
