Paramount restructures Paramount TV Studios & CBS Studios, with senior execs among layoffs

Tulsa King

Paramount has become the latest US studio to cut its workforce amid restructuring, with departees including former Apple TV+ exec Kim Rozenfeld.

Paramount TV Studios and CBS Studios have both been affected, with around 30 people losing their jobs mainly across production, business affairs, casting and legal divisions.

The rejig will see the scripted originals unit at Paramount+ moved into Paramount TV Studios, a shift that makes Rozenfeld’s position – only filled in August – now unnecessary as Cheryl Bonsak’s role (previously overseeing the studio and streamer arm) has now been streamlined.

Kim Rozenfeld

Others leaving include former Amazon Studios exec John Lynch, who was most recently EVP & head of production at Paramount TV Studios, and head of development, Jenna Santoianni.

Her exit, like Rozenfeld’s, is related to the moving of scripted originals for Paramount+ into the studio arm.

Nicole Clemens, previously president of scripted originals for Paramount TV Studios and Paramount+, will now have oversight at the studio. David Stapf leads CBS Studios.

George Cheeks, president & CEO at CBS and chief content officer for news & sports at Paramount+, told staff in a memo that the two studios would not be merged and instead operate as “two independently operated brands.”

However, back-office functions will be combined, said Cheeks, who also confirmed that he wants the company to further develop international partnerships.

Paramount is home to production entities around the world, as well as networks such as Channel 5 in the UK and Network 10 in Australia. Cheeks added that programming would continue to be sold to third-parties.

On the production side, Kevin Berg is set to run CBS Studios and Liz Miller will lead Paramount TV Studios.

The layoffs, first revealed by US trade Deadline, follow the recent exit of David Nevins, who had overseen scripted series for Paramount+ as chairman and CEO of Paramount Premium Group. Paramount+, meanwhile, continues to be rolled out internationally with a launch in France today providing access to originals such as The Offer, Tulsa King, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Halo.