Paramount Data Team Shake-Up Under Ellison’s Tech Vision

David Ellison is showing that ​his tech-first vision for Paramount Skydance isn’t just talk.

Ellison is ⁤taking his data-focused strategy to a new⁤ level by ⁢elevating Jason Kim, Paramount’s EVP of data and insights, to​ oversee data ‍for ⁤the entire ‌company, instead of just⁣ the direct-to-consumer ​division.

The change was announced by⁢ Domenic DiMeglio — who heads up marketing as well as data and‌ insights for Paramount’s streaming division — in a Thursday⁣ afternoon⁤ staff meeting, a recording of which ‌was obtained by Business Insider.

Kim’s increased remit comes a day after ⁢Ellison,Paramount’s CEO,met with company leadership‌ in its⁣ New York offices.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for ⁤Jason — and for the team overall — to start playing a bigger role for ⁢what’s happening at Paramount as we move forward,” DiMeglio ‌said in the meeting.

DiMeglio added that⁢ Kim’s bigger role is ‍part‌ of “David’s vision of ‍trying to transform ourselves into being a tech-first media company — and, really, the most tech-forward media company in this space.”

Ellison has remade Paramount ⁢in other ways as taking control of the company in August, including securing US ‍UFC rights, hiring Bari Weiss to ⁤lead CBS News,‍ and attempting to⁤ buy Warner Bros. ​finding.

While ​Paramount⁣ already had data and analytics teams across the ⁢company, it ⁣now has a new point ‍person to oversee those efforts.

“I‍ would hope and⁢ expect ‍that, little by little, we’re going to bring those silos down,” DiMeglio said. He added ​it’s “not easy work.”

Dane⁤ Glasgow, Paramount’s chief product officer, said in an email⁤ to employees that “these updates are part of​ a broader effort to focus our investments, reduce fragmentation, ⁣and move faster as one ‌team.”

Paramount’s streaming team has become familiar with⁣ change. last‍ week, Paramount’s streaming ‍product and tech ⁤chief, Vibol ⁣hou, told colleagues he was leaving ⁤ at the end of January,Business Insider reported.

“You could probably sense that there’s been ‌some musical ‍chairs stuff going on within the organization at large,” Kim said.⁤ “And ​that’s not unique. That’s sort⁢ of true of any company that’s undergoing a large-scale‌ organizational⁢ conversion, like the one that we’re in the midst ⁣of now.”

Continuing the musical chairs analogy, ‌Kim said that this change signals that “this is our chair — we’re ‌here‌ to stay.”

Although ‍Paramount according to Business insider. The ‌restructuring aims to improve ⁢efficiency and ⁣leverage ⁤data more effectively ​across the ⁤company’s streaming and‌ traditional media operations.

While acknowledging the ⁤recent ⁢layoffs, Kaufman indicated ​that the company​ doesn’t ⁢anticipate a shrinking ⁢scope.⁣ “I‍ don’t think⁢ our scope is going to get smaller here. It is indeed only ​going to get larger,” she said. She also suggested that any future consolidation would involve integrating teams rather‌ than reducing headcount.

Two Paramount employees who⁣ attended the ‌meeting expressed optimism about Kaufman’s message, Business Insider reported.