Paramount streaming CEO Tom Ryan steps down amid leadership reshuffle

Tom Ryan, the longtime president and CEO of Paramount Streaming, has announced his departure from the company, marking another major executive exit as the Skydance-Paramount merger begins to reshape the studio’s leadership ranks.

In a heartfelt internal note to staff, Ryan reflected on his decade-long journey building streaming services that evolved into industry giants. “I leave with deep gratitude and pride for a team I love and admire, and for Pluto TV and Paramount+, streaming services that started as bold ideas and have since grown into global powerhouses,” he wrote.

“It has been the honor and privilege of my career to lead and work alongside this exceptional team. Thank you for the laughs, the late nights, the karaoke sessions, the bold ideas, and the unwavering belief in what we could do together,” he continued.

Though stepping down from his executive role, Ryan will remain involved in an advisory capacity, supporting Cindy Holland and the new streaming leadership team ushered in through the Skydance deal.

Ryan’s tenure at Paramount Streaming, which began in October 2020, was marked by remarkable growth. The division surged from $1.8 billion in revenue in 2020 to $7.6 billion by 2024, with its first globally profitable quarters recorded that same year. Prior to that, Ryan co-founded Pluto TV and served as its CEO, launching the FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) pioneer in 2014. Under his leadership, Pluto TV was acquired by Viacom in 2019 for $340 million and went on to top $1 billion in annual revenue by 2021.

In addition to his work at Paramount, Ryan is chairman of Struck Studio, a startup venture studio he helped launch in 2022. He also sits on the boards of Telly and Smule and advises venture capital firms including SignalFire and Felix Capital.

Ryan’s exit comes amid a broader executive exodus at Paramount. Dan Cohen, Paramount Global’s chief licensing officer, is also stepping down, and co-CEOs Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins are expected to follow as Skydance finalizes its control over the iconic studio.

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