Paramount Streaming and Showtime head of communications Erin Calhoun is leaving the company after seven years.
Calhoun will depart at the end of September, she wrote in a memo to staff on Thursday (read it below, along with a note from Paramount Streaming president and CEO Tom Ryan).
What truly has made this journey remarkable is this team and the people I have had the privilege to work with the talented individuals who have not just been colleagues, but friends, Calhoun writes. I leave here with cherished memories that will stay with me forever. Calhouns exit follows that of Paramount+ and Paramount+ With Showtime chief marketing officer Michael Engleman in August. As was the case with Englemans exit, Calhoun is leaving Paramount as the company looks for ways to streamline its operations, including in communications, ahead of its merger with Skydance. The company is seeking $500 million in cost savings and is laying off 15 percent of its U.S. workforce.
Calhoun leaves Paramount as executive vp and head of communications for Paramount Streaming, Paramount+ With Showtime and cross-company publicity. Prior to joining Showtime, she was vp corporate communications at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and vp communications at Discovery.
Read Calhouns full memo below.
Team,
After seven incredible years, I am sharing the news that I will be leaving Paramount. It has been a privilege to be a part of this organization, and I am filled with gratitude for the experiences and opportunities I have been fortunate to have but most of all the friendships I have made along the way.
During my time here, I had the honor of leading the communications team first at Showtime and most recently for Paramount Streaming, an experience that has been truly rewarding. I am very proud of this team and all we have accomplished. Together, we overcame several challenges and changes always supporting each other as we focused on delivering amazing campaigns and record breaking results including launching numerous award winning shows, producing hundreds of premiere events and awards campaigns, and expertly navigating countless corporate communications initiatives.
While Im incredibly proud of what we accomplished together, what truly has made this journey remarkable is this team and the people I have had the privilege to work with the talented individuals who have not just been colleagues, but friends. I leave here with cherished memories that will stay with me forever. I am so grateful for every moment, for all the fun we have had together and for each and every one of you.
As I move forward to my next adventure, please know that I carry with me all the lessons learned, as well as the spirit of collaboration that we have cultivated together. Thank you for your support, your dedication, and your partnership.
I will be departing at the end of the month and l look forward to connecting with many of you prior to leaving. Wishing each of you all the best and continued success.
With heartfelt thanks,
Erin
Tom Ryans note:
Hi Team
I want to share that Erin Calhoun is leaving Paramount after seven years with the company. I have had the great pleasure of working closely with Erin in her role as EVP, Head of Communications, Paramount Streaming Showtime and Cross-Company Publicity, where she seamlessly brought together communications teams from Paramount+, Pluto TV and Showtime to create a unified function that crafted and accelerated our powerful streaming narrative.
During her tenure, Erin successfully built and led a world-class team that effectively showcased the momentum and milestones of our premium content and leading services. Overseeing everything from Corporate Communications, Publicity, Events and Talent Relations to Awards and Photography, Erin oversaw top-notch campaigns for all Paramount+ originals includingFellow Travelers,The Curse,Frasier, KnucklesandSpecial Ops: Lioness; shepherded media relations for product and brand priorities such as Pluto TVs 10th anniversary; led the team executing more than 250 industry events and spearheaded nearly 100 award nominations each year.
As many of you know, Erin deftly built and elevated the Showtime brand during her time at Paramount, which included sending off hit seriesShamelessandBillions, as well as launching Yellowjackets andDexter: New Blood. During a dynamic time at our company, Erin has also masterfully navigated bringing together teams from across Paramount to demonstrate the success of our combined offering in her role as head of Corporate Cross-Company Publicity. Her collaborative nature and approach were on display for this years Super Bowl where she helped manage the Corporate Communications efforts for the company.
Im incredibly grateful for her countless contributions to Paramount but most of all her steadfast collaboration and expert counsel. Erin has been a trusted confidant and strategic partner, and I know shell have great success in all her future endeavors. Please join me in wishing Erin a heartfelt goodbye.
Tom