Skydance Names Top Communications Team; Seven Execs Exit After Paramount-WBD Merger

Three weeks after the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger closed, Skydance chief communications officer Melissa Zukerman has named four senior lieutenants — and confirmed the departure of seven communications executives.

Zukerman announced the moves in a memo to staff on Friday. Her top team consists of:

• Laura Watson, EVP, head of corporate, executive and strategic communications. She joined Paramount in mid-2025 after leaving WBD and serves as Zukerman's deputy, overseeing strategic and internal communications, enterprise messaging and executive speechwriting.
• Shannon Buck, EVP, corporate communications and media relations, previously head of communications for Paramount+. She will shape stories across direct-to-consumer, advertising, marketing and distribution.
• Virginia Fout, EVP, global and executive events, previously owner and president of V Productions. She leads global events, hospitality and executive hosting.
• Deborah Marcus, SVP, head of corporate social responsibility, who joined Paramount in August 2025. She recently launched the 'Ebenezer No Kid Hungry' campaign and is building a companywide Season of Giving.

Who is leaving?

Seven comms executives will exit the combined company: Arielle Falkowitz (WBD, SVP corporate relations and global events), Megan Klein (WBD, SVP communications), Joe Libonati (WBD, SVP communications), Adrienne O'Hara (WBD, EVP, chief communications and public affairs officer), Karen Shosfy (Paramount, SVP communications), Heather Wagoner (WBD, SVP internal communications, creative and brand) and Dennis Williams (WBD, SVP corporate social responsibility and corporate affairs).

"We are grateful for their partnership and many contributions," Zukerman wrote.

What changes in how Skydance communicates?

The most structural shift is a new "direct to market" function. Zukerman said the company has the opportunity to "rethink how we communicate – moving beyond traditional channels and finding new ways to reach people directly." The unit will expand executive storytelling across Skydance's owned-and-operated platforms and identify new channels and formats.

That approach, she wrote, "will give us more ways to tell our own story, in our own voice, directly to the people we want to reach."

The memo stresses the press still matters. "Most of you know how strongly I believe in building and honoring relationships with journalists," Zukerman wrote, summing up her operating principles: "be direct, know your stuff and tell it like it is."

How does the structure work?

At the center sits a Corporate Communications function handling enterprise and executive communications, with teams embedded across the businesses — a model Zukerman said "has been tested and proven at Paramount." Chris Ender, Brooke Robertson and Jeff Cusson, the communications leads for Skydance TV, Studios and DTC respectively, report on a dotted line into Zukerman's leadership team. Other divisions, including Games & Experiences, Consumer Products, Government Relations, News and Sports, get dedicated collaboration support.

The structure serves three priorities set by David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz: establishing Skydance as "the premier Hollywood content engine," accelerating the integrated direct-to-consumer platform, and optimizing the linear television portfolio anchored by CBS.

What comes next?

Zukerman said she plans to hire "dedicated leaders" for financial communications and for product and technology communications. She framed those hires as "strengthening our capabilities in areas that will only become more important to our business — from AI tools for filmmakers and creatives to advertising sales and beyond."

The appointments and departures are part of the wider leadership shakeout still unfolding across divisions of the newly merged company, three weeks after closing — with two more senior searches now open.