Skydance Finalizes Post-Merger Leadership Across TV, Sports, and Finance

Key points

• JB Perrette, co-chair of Skydance TV and DTC, announced a new leadership team and the departure of seven executives, including Dan Barnes, Michael Bishara, and Marco Nobili, in an internal memo.
• Perrette’s team includes new appointments such as Shauna Spenley (CMO, Global DTC and International TV), Trey Turner (COO, International), and Josh Walker (COO/CFO, DTC), with a pending search for the head of Pluto TV.
• David Berson, chairman of the Global Sports Group, appointed Jeff Gerttula as EVP and Managing Director for digital and international strategy, and Craig Barry as EVP and Chief Content Officer for production.
• CFO Dennis Cinelli announced a finance leadership team focused on achieving $6 billion in annualized cost savings, with key roles filled by Kevin Creighton (Corporate Finance), Todd Davis (Global Tax), and Simon Robinson (Business Transformation).
• The restructuring follows the October 6, 2026, closure of the $110 billion merger, which created Skydance with nearly $70 billion in pro-forma annual revenue and approximately $80 billion in net debt.

Background

The Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, valued at $110 billion, officially closed on October 6, 2026, forming Skydance. Initial leadership announcements in early October 2026 established the C-suite, including David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz as co-CEOs, Casey Bloys for streaming, and George Cheeks for TV content. Subsequent weeks saw the formalization of TV and DTC leadership under JB Perrette and the appointment of revenue-focused executives. The current announcements represent the final phase of integrating legacy assets, addressing debt, and streamlining operations across global markets.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline emphasizes the strategic integration of DTC and TV under JB Perrette, highlighting the departure of seven executives and the pending search for a Pluto TV leader, noting the service’s decline relative to rivals like Tubi. Sports Business Journal and Front Office Sports focus on the Global Sports Group, detailing David Berson’s appointments of Jeff Gerttula and Craig Barry, and noting exits such as Nate Smeltz and Sophia Constantinides. Variety highlights the finance restructuring under Dennis Cinelli, emphasizing the $6 billion cost-saving target and the integration of legacy Paramount and WBD finance teams. All sources agree on the urgency to streamline operations and address debt, but differ in emphasis: Deadline and Variety focus on corporate and streaming integration, while sports outlets highlight the consolidation of CBS and TNT Sports assets.

Why it matters

The finalized leadership structure signals Skydance’s transition from a merger phase to an operational integration phase, critical for achieving cost savings and competitive positioning in a rapidly evolving media landscape. The departure of senior executives and the pending search for a Pluto TV leader reflect challenges in aligning legacy assets, while the finance team’s focus on $6 billion in savings underscores the pressure to manage $80 billion in net debt. These moves will determine Skydance’s ability to compete with streaming rivals and maintain revenue growth across linear and DTC platforms.

What to watch

Skydance will conduct a search for a new head of Pluto TV, with interim leadership under Josh Walker and JB Perrette. The finance team will execute cost-saving measures, including potential layoffs, to meet the $6 billion annualized target. Regional leaders, including Andrew Georgiou (Europe & Africa) and James Gibbons (APAC & MENA), will oversee integrated TV and streaming operations in their markets. Further refinements to sub-team structures are expected in the coming weeks as the company aligns global and local operations.