Long-time Paramount executive Barbara Zaneri is departing the company after 25 years.

Zaneri, chief program acquisitions officer at the company, is stepping down to focus full time on a nonprofit group she founded, the Gold Star Services Network. As she departs, Virginia Lazalde-McPherson will take on new duties at Paramount, becoming chief acquisitions officers for Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios.

Anyone fortunate enough to work with Barb knows she is a true force of nature, blazing trails across the industry and leading with vision, grit and empathy, Paramount co-CEO and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios president Chris McCarthy wrote in a memo to staff.She built the industrys first centralized content acquisitions group, securing landmark deals that fuel both our linear and streaming platforms. Beyond the deals and the accolades, what truly stands out is the impact Barb has had on the people around her. In addition to being a legendary dealmaker, she is a generous mentor, a fierce advocate for others, and a dear friend. Her influence has shaped the way we think, collaborate, and lead and her impact has resonated deeply within the company. The Gold Star Services Network helps Gold Star families those who have lost a loved one in U.S. military service by working with local organizations to promote awareness and put on events to recognize the sacrifice and legacy of service members.

Lazalde-McPherson joined Showtime in 2019 and most recently was executive vp and head of strategy and business operations. She helped navigate the integration of Showtime into Paramount+ and played a key role in getting Michael C. Hall to return for the upcoming Dexter: Resurrection.

Virginia leads with clarity, collaboration, and a deep understanding of where the industry is headed, McCarthy wrote in the memo. We couldnt be more excited to see her take on this well-deserved and broader leadership position.