Paramount Global has restructured in Australia – including the operations of streaming service Paramount Plus and Network 10 – resulting in a number of redundancies.
Pam Kaufman, chief executive officer at Paramount and president of international markets, global consumer products and experiences at Paramount Global, said in an email to staff – seen by Variety Australia – that the move was part of its push to globalise its operations.
The restructure has led to the departure of Liz Baldwin, who was vice president of streaming, as well as Frank Filosi, vice president of operations, who has been with the organisation for 27 years.
The streaming responsibilities, will be absorbed by Beverley McGarvey, who becomes head of Paramount Plus for Australia, as well as holding onto her existing roles of executive vice president and chief content officer, ANZ.
McGarvey will now have dual reporting lines, including to Marco Nobili in Tom Ryan’s global streaming organisation.
Jarrod Villani, the co-lead in Australia alongside McGavey, will also retain his existing roles as EVP and chief operating and commercial officer, as well as becoming regional lead for Australia. As regional lead for Australia, he will report to Katherine Liu, COO of Paramount International Markets, and will join the International Markets Operating Council.
Both McGarvey and Villani will also report to Maria Kyriacou, president of broadcast and studios for international markets.
There were also changes across Paramount in markets including Canada, Israel, and the U.K.
Kaufman said it is critical to have the right leadership team in place, and that the organisational changes are “rooted in a strong, deliberate strategy that we all believe will move us forward in our next chapter”.
A Paramount ANZ spokesperson also issued a separate statement regarding Baldwin’s departure, wishing her the best for the future.
“Her long-standing contribution to Network 10 and its BVOD service 10 Play, for over six years has seen her successfully establish 10 Play as a leading streaming service with enhanced technical, data, martech and live streaming capabilities, before taking on the role of head of streaming for Paramount ANZ,” the spokesperson said.
“Liz was instrumental in positioning Paramount+ in the Australian market for its launch, now the fastest growing SVOD service in Australia, and its ongoing success.
“We thank Liz for her valuable contribution to the business and wish her the very best for the future.”
The spokesperson also bade farewell to Filosi after “an incredible 37 years”.
“Frank, who was vice president of operations and facilities and general manager Adelaide, has been a major force at Paramount ANZ. He started at Network 10 in Adelaide as an assistant accountant in February 1986. His career has spanned multiple senior roles at Network 10 in Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane and he became a significant member of the senior leadership team with local and national responsibilities.
“Frank’s contribution to the company, to countless careers and to the industry is impossible to overstate. His unwavering enthusiasm, professionalism and committed leadership has been instrumental in South Australia, not to mention nationally.
“Frank’s leadership and management of the national operations and facilities departments has been extremely successful. He has led the teams through major change and has been instrumental in preparing for significant operation and technology innovations that has taken the business to the next level.
“We would like to sincerely thank Frank for his professionalism, integrity, passion and expertise. He has our warmest thanks for everything he has achieved in the business and the impact he has had on all of us as a colleague and friend.”
Australia’s Network 10 went into administration in 2017.
It was eventually rescued by international giant CBS Corporation, which subsequently merged with Viacom to form ViacomCBS, and is now operating as Paramount Global.
