Paramount Co-CEO Chris McCarthy to Depart Amid Skydance Merger

Paramount Global is undergoing a leadership change as the company's co-CEO, Chris McCarthy, prepares to depart. The announcement comes after the FCC recently cleared the Skydance Media-Paramount merger.

McCarthy was appointed co-CEO of Paramount Global in April 2024, overseeing the company's operations alongside George Cheeks and Brian Robbins. In his role, McCarthy expanded his responsibilities to include oversight of Paramount's streaming division, encompassing Paramount+ and Pluto TV, in addition to his existing leadership of Showtime/MTV Entertainment.

During his tenure, McCarthy forged a significant creative partnership with Taylor Sheridan, signing him to an overall TV deal. Together, they built the acclaimed "Yellowstone Universe," which includes the hit series Yellowstone and its spin-offs 1883, 1923, and upcoming titles. McCarthy also brought Jon Stewart back to helm The Daily Show and struck a deal with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone to expand their partnership with Paramount.

As head of Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios, McCarthy transformed the business by consolidating nine separate entities into a unified portfolio. This strategy nearly doubled the audience and streamlined expenses while growing profits. Under his leadership, the studios produced some of today's biggest hits, including Yellowstone, Emily in Paris, South Park, and Dexter: Origins.

With McCarthy's departure, Paramount Global will undergo a leadership restructuring as the company continues to navigate the evolving media landscape and the growing importance of streaming.