Brian Robbins has made his exit as Co-CEO of Paramount Global and president-CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon official.
“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,” Robbins said in memo to staff. “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 waited to confirm his imminent departure until a day before the $8 billion Paramount-Skydance merger officially closes. Earlier this week, Skydance chief David Ellison — who orchestrated the deal and will become CEO of the newly minted Paramount Global — announced his leadership team, including incoming movie studio co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein.
Robbins, who was tapped to run Paramount Pictures in 2021 following a successful stint at Nickelodeon, took on the expanded role of co-CEO of Paramount Global in April 2024 alongside George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy following the ouster of Bob Bakish and as Shari Redstone‘s company was in its first round of negotiations with Skydance.
To say Robbins ran the film studio during tumultuous times is an understatement. Not only did Paramount face its own internal tumult, but he also saw the studio through the pandemic and dual labor strikes of 2023. Yet he quickly won over skeptics, particularly considering what limited resources he was given to work with. And he was given props for taking theatrical chances on titles that were originally intended to go straight to streaming, such as Smile and Mean Girls.
“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,” Robins wrote.
Mission: Impossible and Top Gun were both co-financed by Skydance, meaning Ellison and Robbins worked closely together.
Robbins, a former actor who starred in ABC sitcom Head of the Class before turning his attention to producing, saw his star rise quickly when joining the conglomerate as president of Paramount Players in 2017 to produce films inspired by brands like Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. His Paramount Players films include live-action Dora the Explorer movie, What Men Want, and Tiffany Haddish-starrer Nobody’s Fool. A year later, he was tapped to serve as president of Nickelodeon. Highlights included pushing for a PAW Patrol feature, which became a sleeper hit at the box office in summer 2021 despite debuting day-and-date on Paramount+ amid the ongoing pandemic (he was promoted weeks after the movie opened in cinemas).
“As I reflect on our time together, we’ve jointly experienced an incredible amount of change and transformation,” the executive also said. “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.”
There’s no word on what he’ll do next.
You can read Robbins’ full 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