Skydance Outlines Unified Advertising Leadership Following Paramount-WBD Merger

Skydance has established a new executive roster for its combined commercial advertising operations following the recent completion of the massive Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The leadership structure was detailed in an internal staff memo from Jay Askinasi, Skydance’s chief revenue officer for advertising, which was obtained and reported by Business Insider.

Unifying a Massive Media Portfolio

The restructuring follows the closing of a $110 billion mega-merger earlier this month that consolidated extensive media holdings under Skydance. The combined entity now oversees major television, streaming, and news brands, including Paramount, Paramount+, Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max, CBS, and CNN.

According to the memo, Askinasi described the new organization as a “unified Skydance Advertising organization.” In his note to staff, Askinasi stated that the team was formed to promote clearer ownership and fewer organizational layers, emphasizing that leadership intends to align with how commercial clients plan and purchase advertising inventory while using shared data across the company’s intellectual property.

Key Appointments in the New Division

Under the structure reported by Business Insider, several executives have been named to lead core operational and commercial branches:

• Danielle Carney: Head of US sales
• Jill Steinhauser: Head of ad partnerships
• Christine Hong: Head of revenue operations
• Chris Brady: Head of Skydance Media Labs
• Ed Romaine: Head of ad marketing
• Evan Giamanco: Head of product strategy and measurement

Steve Ellis, who has served as Paramount’s chief operating officer for advertising since 2022, will remain in that role and serve as the integration lead for the advertising business. Meanwhile, Lee Sears will continue directing Paramount’s international advertising operations as executives assess Warner Bros. Discovery’s international division to determine its long-term structure.

Transition Plans and Executive Changes

The memo also addressed leadership transitions stemming from Warner Bros. Discovery’s existing ad business. Ryan Gould, president of ad sales and go-to-market at WBD, and Bobby Voltaggio, president of ad sales and platform monetization at WBD, are scheduled to collaborate with Askinasi through the fourth quarter.

A representative for Skydance did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment regarding the memo. The advertising overhaul comes amid wider corporate realignment across the consolidated company; a separate leaked memo reported earlier by the outlet indicated restructuring within the company’s product and technology division, resulting in the exit of four Warner Bros. Discovery executives.

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