Skydance Adds Former Activision Blizzard CEO To Its Board

Two new names have been added to Skydance's board. The company formed after the Warner/Paramount merger will have Bobby Kotick, former Activision-Blizzard CEO, and philanthropist Laurene Powell.  

“Bobby led a global entertainment company through three decades of sustained growth, and he brings real perspective on building enduring franchises and connecting with fans", CEO David Ellison told the company in a statement reported by The Hollywood Reporter. "His record of pairing bold strategic moves with disciplined capital allocation is exactly the experience we need as we bring our businesses together". 

Regarding Laurene's arrival, Ellison said: “Laurene is a true visionary and one of the great institution builders of our time. Her vision, judgment and unwavering commitment to high-quality journalism and media investments make her a truly exceptional addition to our Board". 

They now join a leadership already composed by James Gunn, Casey Bloys, Dana Goldberg and more. Check out the company's board:

• Casey Bloys will be responsible for Skydance's streaming businesses, including HBO Max, Paramount+, and Pluto;
• James Gunn and Peter Safran remain as co-presidents of DC Studios, responsible for DC's film and television division;
• George Cheeks will head the television division, overseeing linear channels and TV studios;
• Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein will be the co-chairmen of Skydance Motion Picture Group, overseeing its film business;
• JB Perrette will have leadership roles in both the television and streaming divisions of the company;
• Mark Thompson will continue as president and editor-in-chief of CNN Worldwide;
• Bari Weiss remains as editor-in-chief of CBS News.

What changes with the merger between Warner and Paramount?

• Paramount to Accumulate an Extra $7.5 Billion In Debt for Warner's Purchase
• Netflix and Paramount End Agreement with Skydance for Animated Films
• Mark Ruffalo Slams Warner-Paramount Merger

Skydance was officially formed this Tuesday (6), after the completion of the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. In the memorandum, Ellison and Kreiz stated that the new company intends to combine the resources, brands and talents of the two groups to create a media and entertainment company with greater scale and ability to compete in the market.

The executives also highlighted that the goal is not only to expand the number of productions, brands, or intellectual properties, but to integrate the structures of the two companies. The message, titled "Day 1," marks the start of Skydance's operations after the completion of the agreement.