Skydance sets ad leadership after Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger

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Skydance ad leadership post-merger

Highlights

Skydance's newly unified advertising unit structure names Danielle Carney as head of U.S. sales and Lee Sears overseeing international advertising post-Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
Memo outlines leadership aimed at fewer layers, clearer ownership, and data-driven strategy to enhance speed and effectiveness of advertising decisions after the merger closed this month.
Recent memos reveal continued management reorganization, including four Warner Bros. Discovery executive departures from product and technology teams, signaling ongoing integration efforts.

Combined ad unit leadership takes shape

As first reported by Business Insider, a memo viewed by the outlet says Jay Askinasi, Skydance's chief revenue officer for advertising, has outlined the management structure for what he calls the unified Skydance Advertising organization. The changes follow the closing of the merger this month and set out the executives responsible for key functions across the newly combined business.

Under the structure described in the memo, Danielle Carney is head of U.S. sales, Jill Steinhauser is head of ad partnerships, Christine Hong is head of revenue operations, Chris Brady is head of Skydance Media Labs, Ed Romaine is head of ad marketing, and Evan Giamanco is head of product strategy and measurement.

Askinasi says Steve Ellis remains chief operating officer for advertising and integration lead, a role he has held at Paramount since 2022. He also says Lee Sears continues to lead Paramount's international advertising business while executives evaluate Warner Bros. Discovery's international operations and decide on the right structure for the new Skydance group.

Integration signals broader restructuring

In the memo, Askinasi says the team is designed to operate with clearer ownership, fewer layers, and leaders closer to day-to-day work. He adds that the company plans to organize around how clients plan and buy advertising, while using shared data and intelligence to improve decision-making speed and effectiveness.

The note also thanks Ryan Gould, president of ad sales and go-to-market at Warner Bros. Discovery, and Bobby Voltaggio, president of ad sales and platform monetization at Warner Bros. Discovery. Askinasi says both will continue to work with him through the fourth quarter.

The leadership announcement is one of several management changes emerging after the merger's completion. Business Insider also says another leaked memo on Thursday detailed changes to Skydance's product and technology team, including the departure of four Warner Bros. Discovery executives, indicating the wider integration effort is still taking shape.

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