Media juggernaut Skydance—the newly unified entity following Paramount-Skydance’s $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery—has initiated a major structural overhaul of its distribution arm.
According to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the company appointed Sarah Bergman and Mickey Carter to co-head global distribution operations as eight senior executives prepare to exit.
The announcement, issued by Skydance President of Distribution Ray Hopkins, comes as leadership works to align content delivery across cable, satellite, broadcast, and streaming platforms while targeting $6 billion in cost savings.
New Leadership & Executive Departure Roster
Under the restructuring, Sarah Bergman (formerly EVP of networks and streaming distribution at Warner Bros. Discovery) and Mickey Carter (formerly EVP of U.S. distribution at Paramount) will lead distribution strategy.
The shake-up includes the departure of eight veteran executives split evenly between both legacy studios:
- Departures from Warner Bros. Discovery: Rivka Golomb, Kelly Kane, Jeff Cross, and Rich Palermo.
- Departures from Paramount: David Comisar, Kurt Davis, Deena Demasi, and Ken Kay.
- Legal Transition: Jeff Cross, former EVP of legal and commercial partnerships, will exit his executive post but remain as a senior advisor. His responsibilities will be assumed by Rick Baker, Paramount’s former EVP and deputy general counsel for distribution business and legal affairs.
Cost Reduction Goals Amid $80B Debt Load
Led by Chief Executive Officer David Ellison, Skydance is aggressively restructuring operations to manage approximately $80 billion in combined debt following the historic megamerger.
- Synergy Targets: The combined distribution model aims to eliminate redundant overhead while securing $6 billion in total efficiency savings.
- Workforce Adjustments: Skydance—which projects a total workforce of roughly 53,000 employees based on combined 2025 filings—offered staff a voluntary one-time buyout program last month ahead of mandatory return-to-office initiatives.
