Skydance Media Announces Paramount Board Slate, David Ellison to Become Chairman

Skydance Media has announced the full slate of director designees for Paramount Skydance Corporation. The directors, who will be elected upon the closing of the proposed merger with Paramount Global, include David Ellison as Chairman and CEO, Barbara Byrne, Gerry Cardinale, Safra A. Catz, Andy Gordon, Justin G. Hamill, Sherry Lansing, Paul Marinelli, Jeff Shell, and John L. Thornton. The board will consist of 10 directors, including three independent directors, bringing expertise from media, technology, and global business sectors.

Skydance Media has revealed the full slate of directors for the newly formed Paramount Skydance Corporation. The directors, who will be elected upon the closing of the proposed merger with Paramount Global, include David Ellison as Chairman and CEO, Barbara Byrne, Gerry Cardinale, Safra A. Catz, Andy Gordon, Justin G. Hamill, Sherry Lansing, Paul Marinelli, Jeff Shell, and John L. Thornton. The board will consist of 10 directors, including three independent directors, bringing expertise from media, technology, and global business sectors.

David Ellison, the CEO of Skydance Media, will lead the new entity as Chairman and CEO. The merger is expected to close by August 7, following the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) approval of the deal [1]. The new company will be structured into three primary business segments: studios, direct-to-consumer, and TV media.

The board includes several prominent figures in the entertainment and technology industries. Barbara Byrne, a former executive at NBCUniversal, will serve as an independent director. Gerry Cardinale, a veteran in the investment and media sectors, will also be an independent director. Safra A. Catz, co-CEO of Oracle, brings significant business and technology expertise to the board. Andy Gordon, a partner at RedBird Capital, will serve as an independent director and will oversee the company's strategy and operations.

Jeff Shell, a former CEO of NBCUniversal, will be an independent director and will bring valuable experience in media and entertainment leadership. John L. Thornton, a former CEO of the Bank of America, will also serve as an independent director, bringing a wealth of global business experience to the board.

The board's composition reflects the new company's strategic vision to integrate leading technologies with powerful storytelling and artistic vision, as stated by Ellison in a recent statement [2]. The merger aims to unlock Paramount's full potential and shape the future of the entertainment industry.

The new company is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PSKY. The merger provides $2.4 billion for Shari Redstone, $4.5 billion to non-NAI Paramount shareholders, and an additional $1.5 billion in new capital to help pay down debt and recapitalize the company's balance sheet [1].

References:

[1] https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/skydance-paramount-merger/2025/08/04/id/1221167/
[2] https://www.thewrap.com/paramount-skydance-merger-leadership-team/