David Ellison will remain Chairman and CEO of the newly combined company, and Kreiz will serve as Co-CEO and join the Board of Directors.
Paramount Skydance Corporation (PSKY) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced that their merger is expected to close on October 6, 2026.
In addition, Paramount CEO David Ellison announced Ynon Kreiz will be Co-CEO of the anticipated merged company, effective at closing.
Upon closing, Ellison will remain Chairman and CEO of the newly combined company, and Kreiz will serve as Co-CEO and join the Board of Directors. Together, they will oversee the combined company’s businesses, which will report jointly to both.
Kreiz, who will start at Paramount on October 5, 2026, joins Ellison from Mattel, a leading global play and family entertainment company where he has served as Chairman and CEO since 2018, leading an unprecedented transformation of the business and the execution of its multi-platform, brand-centric strategy.
Together, Ellison and Kreiz will lead the anticipated combined company as one team, pairing complementary skillsets to maximize the full upside of the merger under a comprehensive long-term strategy. Ellison will focus on the company’s long-term strategy, creative vision and direction, including its talent relationships, strategic partnerships, technology and capital allocation. Kreiz will focus on the company’s day-to-day management and integration of the combined businesses.
David Ellison said: “Bringing together Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to create a next-generation global media company is a transformational moment for our industry. Leading it takes a rare combination of strategic vision, operational depth and experience running a public company at the highest levels of media. Ynon brings all three. In Ynon, I’m adding a partner with strong leadership and the operating firepower this integration demands. It’s a division of labor built on our complementary strengths, with clear reporting lines and it lets me focus where I can contribute most: long-term strategy, the company’s overall creative direction, talent relationships, strategic partnerships, technology and capital allocation. We’re like-minded, we see this business the same way and there’s no one I’d rather partner with. Together we’ll build one integrated company that is creator-first, tech-forward and built to scale globally.”
Ynon Kreiz said: “I’m excited to partner with David to build the next-generation media and entertainment company — bringing together premium content and iconic brands at the highest quality and scale, serving global audiences across every entertainment vertical and distribution platform. David is a unique talent and executive: a rare blend of business acumen, creative instinct, and clear vision. I very much share that vision, and I’m inspired by what we can accomplish together. The industry is at an inflection point, demanding evolution, investment, and a willingness to rethink business models. I look forward to working with the leadership team to build a cohesive global entertainment platform — one that stands out with best-in-class operations and execution powered by technology, with unparalleled creative relationships, production capabilities, and global reach. We will continue empowering creators, make this company a greenfield for innovation and storytelling, and collaborate with key partners to reach and engage fans worldwide.”
