Paramount Sets Pay For Top Executives As Merger Closes

David Ellison and Paramount logo

The new Paramount — officially known as “Paramount, A Skydance Corporation” — has laid out the employment contracts for its executive team led by chairman-CEO David Ellison and President Jeff Shell.

Both are starting today as the Skydance-Paramount merger closes with five-year contracts that carry an annual base salary of $3.5 million, a target bonus of $1.5 million and a one-time restricted stock grant valued at $75 million each that vests over five years under the company’s long-term incentive program.

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Andrew Brandon-Gordon, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer, is coming in with a base salary of $2.8 million, a target bonus of $1.2 million and a one-time restricted stock award valued at $60 million.

RELATED: New Paramount CEO David Ellison Acknowledges “Challenging Period” For CBS News, Praises Its “Long Tradition Of Impactful Reporting”

Outgoing Paramount Global executives including Brian Robbins and Chris McCarthy will collect severance payouts. A previous SEC filing had set payments “upon termination and other events” totaling $18.3 million for McCarthy and $18.6 million for Robbins.

That’s on top of their 2024 pay. George Cheeks — who is staying with the new company and will oversee production of South Park — McCarthy and Robbins collected $22.2 million, $19.5 million and $19.6 million, respectively, for last year. The trio worked as co-CEOs since April, when former chief Bob Bakish exited in the midst of deal talks.

The Paramount-Skydance merger closed formally earlier today.

RELATED: Shari Redstone’s Short & Sweet-ish Paramount Exit Memo, As Skydance Takes Over Thursday: “It Is Not Easy To Step Away”

Content shared from deadline.com.

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