Tom Ryan Paramount Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment With Skydance set to close on its takeover of Paramount Global later this week, and with incoming CEO David Ellison having named his senior leadership team this morning, Paramount streaming chief Tom Ryan will be among the executives departing. Ryan informed his staff Monday that he will exit the company in connection with the deal, though he will continue as an advisor to incoming direct-to-consumer chief Cindy Holland to help ensure a smooth transition. Ryan was the founder of Pluto TV, the free ad-supported streaming service, which sold to Paramount predecessor Viacom in 2019 in a $340 million deal. Pluto was an innovator in the FAST space, building a business that most companies are now in and exploring. Related Stories Business "Forever Grateful": Shari Redstone Signs Off As Paramount's Owner Ahead of Skydance Deal Close Business 'Top Gun: Maverick' Copyright Lawsuit Over Screenplay Credit Dismissed Ryan stayed with the company, and has been leading Paramount's streaming business, inclusive of both Pluto and Paramount+. You can read Ryan's note, below. Team, After twelve phenomenal years entertaining the planet together, the time has come for me to say goodbye. I leave with deep gratitude and pride for a team I love and admire, and for Pluto TV and Paramount+, streaming services that started as bold ideas and have since grown into global powerhouses. This has been the journey of a lifetime. From the early days of Pluto TV - born out of a tiny West Hollywood warehouse (that is now, in true LA fashion, a cannabis dispensary) - to the incredible launch and scale of Paramount+, this ride has been nothing short of extraordinary. When we introduced Pluto TV, we were criticized for betting on a free, linear, ad-supported streaming model, when the world was focused only on paid, on-demand, ad-free services. Launching on April Fool's Day admittedly didn't help. But we embraced an underdog spirit, remained steadfast and proved the skeptics wrong when the service was acquired by Viacom just five years later and became sustainably profitable the year following. Together, we helped pioneer FAST before it had a name. We transformed Pluto TV into a billion-dollar business with over 80 million users. We came together to launch Paramount+ into a crowded market and, against all odds, made it the fastest-growing SVOD in the U.S and one of the top four SVOD platforms worldwide. We scaled to 78 million subscribers, hit profitability milestones ahead of schedule and faster than our peers, and just drove Paramount Streaming to a $2.2 billion quarter. This is remarkable growth compared to $1.8 billion for the entire yearwhen we launched the division less than 5 years ago. Even more impressively, our division also generated $157 million in quarterly profit and achieved global profitability for the first half of 2025. But more than the numbers, we built something that mattered-with heart, hustle, and a whole lot of grit. What I'll miss most, though, is you - the people, the team, and the culture we created. Through every challenge, especially the more recent ones, you showed up with courage, creativity, and an unshakable sense of purpose. You've inspired me every single day and I'm a better leader for it. It has been the honor and privilege of my career to lead and work alongside this exceptional team. Thank you for the laughs, the late nights, the karaoke sessions, the bold ideas, and the unwavering belief in what we could do together. While I'll be stepping away from my day-to-day role following the close of the deal, I'll be staying on in an advisory capacity to Cindy Holland and the Streaming leadership team to help ensure a smooth and successful transition. I have no doubt that you'll continue to achieve spectacular things, and I'll be cheering you on every step of the way. Tom THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Podcasts Amazon Breaks Up Wondery Podcast Studio, CEO Jen Sargent Departs Skydance David Ellison Sets His Team: These Are the People Who Will Run the New Paramount THR, Esq Justin Baldoni Sues 'It Ends With Us' Insurers to Cover Legal Fees cinelease Cinelease, Major Movie Lighting and Grip Rental Firm, Sold THR, Esq Kevin Costner's 'Horizon' Settles Lawsuit Over Unpaid Costume Fees Amid Financial, Legal Woes labor Matthew Loeb Re-Elected IATSE International President at Union Convention Podcasts Amazon Breaks Up Wondery Podcast Studio, CEO Jen Sargent Departs Skydance David Ellison Sets His Team: These Are the People Who Will Run the New Paramount THR, Esq Justin Baldoni Sues 'It Ends With Us' Insurers to Cover Legal Fees cinelease Cinelease, Major Movie Lighting and Grip Rental Firm, Sold THR, Esq Kevin Costner's 'Horizon' Settles Law