Pam Kaufman is exiting her role as Paramount President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of International Markets, Global Consumer Products and Experiences, but will serve as a consultant through the end of the year, according to sources familiar with the situation.
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| Pam Kaufman | David Williams |
She becomes the latest senior C-suite exec to leave Paramount following its
sale to Skydance Media in August, according to insiders.
Following the deal, Paramount Chair and CEO David Ellison installed a
new top team, with former NBCUniversal international chief Kevin MacLellan named President, International and Global Content Distribution. The new-look Paramount structured the company into three business segments — Studios, Direct-to-Consumer and TV Media.
Sources indicated the new structure meant Kaufman was likely to exit, and she has announced her decision internally on Friday, September 26 in a memo titled “I’ve Had the Slime of My Life.”
The New York-based exec first joined Paramount in 1997 as Vice President (VP), promotions marketing at Nickelodeon, following several years as VP, promotions at Turner Broadcasting. She then rose through the ranks on the Nickelodeon marketing side before being made Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the channel in 2008.
She was promoted to President of Consumer Products for Nick in 2014 and
then rose to President of Global Consumer Products of the wider Paramount (then Viacom) business in 2018 – the first time the company had established a global consumer products division. In 2021, she became President of Consumer Products and Experiences and
added a CEO moniker to her title a year later at Paramount.
Internally, Paramount credits her for transforming Nickelodeon from a U.S. kids cable channel into a global brand, leading on the launch of franchises including
SpongeBob SquarePants,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
JoJo Siwa and
PAW Patrol. She also worked on commercializing the likes of
Star Trek and
Mission: Impossible, and her work is seen as crucial Paramount making an accumulative $7B in worldwide retail sales.
As her role expanded, she took on hospitality, live experiences, gaming and international markets. This led to the establishment of Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, Paramount Dubai and themed experiences at Universal Studios Florida and California.
Three years ago, she added oversight of the company’s international business, across streaming, free-to-air and cable networks. This put her in ultimate command of major networks such as 5 in the UK, Ten in Australia, Telefe in Argentina and Chilevisión in Chile.
She used this period to restructure the global Paramount operations, working in the prickly environment that characterized the post-peak TV era when most global streamers reset their strategies to focus on profit over growth.
Kaufman serves on the boards of the Lindblad Expeditions, Stella McCartney and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. No word on her next move yet.
Here’s Kaufman’s memo in full…
From: Pam Kaufman
Subject: I’ve Had the Slime of My Life
Hi all,
After much thought and reflection, I have made the difficult decision to leave Paramount. We have had an extraordinary journey and the immense privilege of helping shape stories that touched the lives of millions. We brought iconic characters to life for fans globally and immersed them in unique worlds. The creativity has been limitless, the collaborations brilliant and most importantly, the people: exceptional.
Personally, working at Paramount has been the honor of a lifetime. From my early days on Nickelodeon’s Integrated Marketing team to becoming the company’s first CMO, to leading the International Markets and Global Consumer Products & Experiences divisions, I have had a front- row seat to the ingenuity, passion, and hard work that defines Paramount across every division, in every corner of the world.
Together, we built billion-dollar franchises. We turned a yellow sea sponge into a global icon. We acquired and reignited the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, made Emily in Paris a must- have lifestyle brand, and built PAW Patrol into a top preschool brand. We hit fashion runways with designers from Stella McCartney to Gucci, and we stayed in the zeitgeist with collaborations that sold out in minutes – from Crocs to Supreme. Our gaming business enabled fans to create their own adventures like with the incredibly successful Star Trek Fleet Command, with 20 million downloads and counting. We graced Broadway and London’s West End with theatrical productions from Mean Girls to Sunset Boulevard. We expanded into award-winning hotels, resorts, theme parks, and live tours. In building out these world-class brands and franchises, we created a $7B retail business.
We led the transformation of our international business, setting a strong foundation for the future. As streaming reshaped the entertainment landscape, we supported the Paramount+ and Pluto TV teams, reimagined how we connect with audiences, and aligned global strategy with local expertise. We strengthened our networks, reinforcing their role as powerful platforms for reach, brand visibility, and local connection. Through the Impact Series, which expanded to 10+ cities worldwide, we had meaningful conversations around leadership and inclusion, inspiring a more connected and empowered culture.
Our Paramount team is the very best in the business. Thank you for your commitment, your passion and for making me a better leader. I am excited to see what David Ellison, Jeff Shell, and the new leadership team have planned for the future. While I am consulting through the end of the year, I leave with immense pride in what we have built and confidence in what’s ahead. I will always be rooting for Paramount, and I will definitely be first in line for the Top Gun Las Vegas experience.
In the words of the great Bob Marley, “Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living.”
I’ve truly had the slime of my life in the “in between” with all of you.
Forever grateful, Pam
Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Originally published: September 30, 2025.
