Skydance Distribution Overhaul: Eight Executives Exit Post-Merger

Eight executives are leaving Skydance following a major restructuring of its television and streaming distribution unit. The departures were announced in an internal memo sent on Nov. 3 by Ray Hopkins, the company's president of distribution.

Hopkins named two leaders to head the reorganized team. Sarah Bergman, formerly the EVP of networks and streaming distribution at Warner Bros. Discovery, and Mickey Carter, the former EVP of distribution at Paramount, will share the title of EVP of distribution. They will split responsibility for negotiating distribution agreements and managing partnerships across the new corporate structure.

The unit oversees content deals for CBS owned-and-operated stations, 55 basic cable networks, and streaming services including Paramount+, HBO Max, Discovery+, and Pluto TV. The team also manages more than 100 FAST channels. Hopkins reports to JB Perrette, who serves as co-chair and chief business officer for Skydance TV and Skydance Direct-to-Consumer.

The eight departing executives include Rivka Golomb, Kelly Kane, Jeff Cross, Rich Palermo, David Comisar, Kurt Davis, Deena Demasi, and Ken Kay. These individuals held various senior roles in distribution, marketing, and legal affairs at Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Jeff Cross will remain with the company as a senior adviser to the distribution business despite his departure from his previous executive post.

Other leadership changes include Brad Shipley, who will oversee strategy, Pluto TV, FAST distribution, and business planning for the Skydance Global Sports Group. Patrick Cavanaugh will lead economics for all linear and streaming negotiations, while Rick Baker will manage business and legal affairs for distribution. Joe Bahr and Andrew Borak will handle partner operations and combined distribution marketing, respectively.

Bob Aguanno will manage relationships with roughly 200 CBS affiliate TV stations, working alongside John Bagwell on contracts with station groups. This restructuring occurs as Skydance targets $6 billion in annualized cost savings from the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that closed on Oct. 6. The company sent a memo on Oct. 26 offering voluntary buyouts to certain employees, with mass layoffs expected before the end of the year.