After the completion of the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, Skydance CEO David Ellison has assembled a leadership team he hopes will help the company compete with media powerhouses such as Netflix and Disney. The new leadership, detailed in a companywide email and internal memos, includes longtime HBO chief Casey Bloys as co-chair and chief content officer of Skydance DTC. Several top executives are out amid the leadership shake-up, including former Paramount streaming chief Cindy Holland and Warner Bros. film co-chairs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca.
The merger, completed in October, created a Hollywood giant with content from HBO, Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures, CNN, CBS, and cable networks such as HGTV, TNT, and MTV.
Skydance's executive leadership team includes co-CEO Ynon Kreiz, president Andy Gordon, and direct reports covering content, technology, finance, and operations. Casey Bloys is co-chair and chief content officer of Skydance's direct-to-consumer business, with the president and COO of HBO and Paramount+ among his direct reports. On the product and technology side, Dane Glasgow leads as chief product officer, and the teams will be led mostly by Paramount executives. The advertising unit is headed by Jay Askinasi as chief revenue officer, and George Cheeks oversees television content as co-chair and chief content officer of Skydance TV. Sports is chaired by David Berson.
The reorganization will also see the departure of several Warner Bros. Discovery leaders, including tech chief Avi Saxena and streaming product chief Tyler Whitworth. Overall, the new structure blends executives from both legacy companies, with a number of WBD-side leaders in the streaming business.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The consolidation of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery creates a formidable competitor in the streaming market, combining iconic studios, cable networks, and streaming services.
- The leadership choices signal Skydance's strategic direction: leveraging HBO's prestige content and Paramount's technology and audience reach to challenge Netflix and Disney.
- The departure of several top executives underscores a significant shake-up in Hollywood's corporate power structure.
Background
Skydance, the media company led by David Ellison, completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in October 2026, merging it with its earlier acquisition of Paramount. The merger brought together assets including HBO, CNN, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. studio, CBS, and cable networks such as HGTV, TNT, and MTV.
What to Watch
- How the integrated content library and technology platforms perform against established streaming leaders.
- The potential for further executive changes as the new structure consolidates.
- The launch of combined streaming offerings and any shifts in pricing or packaging.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedSkydance unveiled its leadership team after the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.All Content from Business Insider: “Skydance has unveiled the executives who will oversee its streaming, tech product, TV, sports, and advertising teams, weeks after completing the mega-merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery .”
- SupportedDavid Ellison assembled a leadership team he hopes will help Skydance compete with Netflix and Disney.All Content from Business Insider: “David Ellison has assembled a leadership team that he hopes will help Skydance compete with media powerhouses like Netflix and Disney.”
- SupportedCasey Bloys is co-chair and chief content officer of Skydance DTC.All Content from Business Insider: “Casey Bloys Co-chair and Chief Content Officer of Skydance DTC”
- SupportedFormer Paramount streaming chief Cindy Holland and Warner Bros. film co-chairs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca are among the executives out.All Content from Business Insider: “Several top executives are out amid Skydance's leadership shake-up, including former Paramount streaming chief Cindy Holland and Warner Bros. film co-chairs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca.”
- SupportedA companywide email and internal memos detailed the leadership changes.All Content from Business Insider: “sent a companywide email on Friday evening with links to memos detailing Skydance's new leadership.”
- SupportedThe merger was completed in October.All Content from Business Insider: “Paramount bought Warner Bros. Discovery in October, forming a Hollywood giant.”
- SupportedThe merger created a company with content from HBO, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, CNN, CBS, HGTV, TNT and MTV.All Content from Business Insider: “armed with content from HBO, studios Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures, CNN, CBS, and cable networks like HGTV, TNT, and MTV.”
- SupportedYnon Kreiz is co-CEO and Andy Gordon is president in Skydance's executive leadership team.All Content from Business Insider: “Here are the direct reports to David Ellison, chairman and CEO, and Ynon Kreiz, co-CEO: Name Position Andy Gordon President”
- SupportedThe president and COO of HBO and Paramount+ is among Casey Bloys's direct reports.All Content from Business Insider: “Here are the direct reports to Casey Bloys, co-chair and chief content officer of Skydance DTC: Name Position Glenn Whitehead President & COO, HBO and Paramount+”
- SupportedDane Glasgow is chief product officer, and Skydance's product and tech teams will be led mostly by Paramount executives.All Content from Business Insider: “Skydance's product and tech teams will be led mostly by Paramount execs”
- SupportedJay Askinasi is chief revenue officer for advertising.All Content from Business Insider: “Jay Askinasi, the chief revenue officer for advertising.”
- SupportedDavid Berson chairs Skydance's global sports group.All Content from Business Insider: “Here are the direct reports to David Berson, chairman of Skydance's global sports group:”
