Brian Robbins has confirmed his exit as Co-CEO of Paramount Global and president-CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon.
In a memo addressed to his staff, Robbins noted, “This moment of transition is, of course, bittersweet. But I step away with deep pride in what we’ve built together, and with great confidence in the road ahead. The company is in exceptionally capable hands with David Ellison and the incoming team from Skydance, and I know you’ll continue to thrive and excel with your collective talents.”
The affable executive delayed announcing his departure until just one day prior to the closure of the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance, overseen by Ellison, who orchestrated the deal and is set to assume the role of CEO of the newly organized Paramount Global. Ellison has recently announced his leadership team, which will include Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein as co-chairs of the studio.
Robbins initially joined Paramount Pictures in 2021 after a successful tenure at Nickelodeon. His responsibilities expanded in April 2024 when he became Co-CEO of Paramount Global alongside George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy, following the ousting of Bob Bakish as CEO amid negotiations with Skydance.
His leadership at Paramount was marked by numerous challenges, including navigating the studio through the pandemic and the labor strikes of 2023, earning him recognition for transforming skepticism into support. Robbins’s tenure was particularly noted for his bold decisions to release titles initially intended for streaming, such as Smile and Mean Girls, in theaters.
Robbins stated, “We’ve reinvigorated beloved properties and expanded franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Scream, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, A Quiet Place and Mission: Impossible. We championed bold new films like Smile and Bob Marley: One Love, and delivered new takes on classic films like Mean Girls and The Naked Gun. This team is behind the highest-grossing film in the studio’s history, Top Gun: Maverick.”
Both Mission: Impossible and Top Gun had financial backing from Skydance, indicating the collaborative foundation that Robbins established with Ellison.
Before his rise, Robbins was known for his role in the ABC sitcom Head of the Class. He quickly ascended the ranks of Paramount after joining the company in 2017 as president of Paramount Players, producing films inspired by Nickelodeon’s iconic brands. His portfolio includes notable films like the live-action Dora the Explorer and Nobody’s Fool.
Reflecting on his time, Robbins remarked, “We’ve jointly experienced an incredible amount of change and transformation. Through global disruptions, shifting audience behaviors, and major industry evolution, your perseverance and creativity never wavered. You stayed focused, resilient, and committed to our shared mission: telling great stories that captivate audiences.”
As for Robbins’s future plans, there have been no announcements yet regarding his next career moves.
You can read Robbins’ full farewell note below:
Team,
I’m writing today to share with you that I am departing as Co-CEO of Paramount Global, and President and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon. As my time with the company comes to a close, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to all of you.
When I first walked onto the Paramount Pictures lot as a young filmmaker many years ago, I never imagined I’d one day be entrusted with leading this storied studio. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to work alongside such an extraordinary group of people – creators, executives, teams – whose passion and dedication continue to inspire me every day.
As I reflect on our time together, we’ve jointly experienced an incredible amount of change and transformation. Through global disruptions, shifting audience behaviors, and major industry evolution, your perseverance and creativity never wavered. You stayed focused, resilient, and committed to our shared mission: telling great stories that captivate audiences. With commitment and care, we brought new life to our studio’s franchises, expanded into new platforms, and strengthened our footprint across film, television, streaming, and consumer products.
At Paramount Pictures, we’ve continued to build on a legacy of great entertainment while pushing forward with fresh voices and ambitious ideas. You’ve helped bring to life stories that entertain, resonate, and endure, and reminded audiences why theatrical matters – why shared experiences in dark rooms still have the power to unite. We’ve reinvigorated beloved properties and expanded franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Scream, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, A Quiet Place, and Mission: Impossible. We championed bold new films like Smile and Bob Marley: One Love, and delivered new takes on classic films like Mean Girls and The Naked Gun – and of course – this team is behind the highest-grossing film in the studio’s history, Top Gun: Maverick. In the wake of Covid, we led the charge bringing audiences back to theaters at a time when the world longed for connection and community, leading to a record-breaking year in the studio’s history.
At Nickelodeon, I’m especially proud of how we honored the iconic heritage of the brand while building new connections with today’s generation through innovative content, smart digital strategy, and deep franchise expansion – from SpongeBob and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Dora to PAW Patrol and beyond. Also, our groundbreaking and Emmy® Award-winning simulcasts of the NFL Playoff and Super Bowl games set the bar for massive engagement with a younger generation during these landmark sporting events. As a result, we expanded Nick’s standing as a creative wellspring and as the #1 kids’ entertainment brand.
This moment of transition is, of course, bittersweet. But I step away with deep pride in what we’ve built together, and with great confidence in the road ahead. The company is in exceptionally capable hands with David Ellison and the incoming team from Skydance, and I know you’ll continue to thrive and excel with your collective talents.
To everyone across the company, thank you. Thank you for staying the course in difficult moments, and for pushing boundaries with heart and determination. Most importantly, thank you for your friendship. It has been an honor to be on this journey with you. I’ll be cheering for you – always.
With gratitude,
Brian
Based on reporting by Hollywood Reporter. Read the full story at Hollywood Reporter.
