One of Paramount Global’s top communications executives, Erin Calhoun, is stepping down from her role as EVP, Head of Communications, Paramount Streaming & Showtime and Cross-Company Publicity after seven years at the company. Her departure comes as Paramount is bracing for the next wave of layoffs, which I hear is expected next Tuesday, Sept. 24, with marketing and streaming/Paramount+ believed to be among the areas seriously impacted. There also will be further streamlining of the company’s communications operations, which Calhoun’s departure is a precursor to.Paramount Global’s staff cuts, aiming to reduce its U.S.-based workforce by 15%, started in August, with 90% of the total layoffs to be completed by the end of September.Calhoun, who was EVP Communications at Showtime Networks & Paramount Television Studios before being named to her current role in January 2023, announced her departure in a note to her team. (You can read it below.) It also was addressed in an internal memo to the division by Tom Ryan, President & CEO, Paramount Streaming.“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,” Ryan said in the email, which you can read in full below. “Overseeing everything from Corporate Communications, Publicity, Events and Talent Relations to Awards and Photography, Erin oversaw top-notch campaigns for all Paramount+ originals including Fellow Travelers, The Curse, Frasier, Knuckles and Special Ops: Lioness; shepherded media relations for product and brand priorities such as Pluto TV’s 10th anniversary; led the team executing more than 250 industry events and spearheaded nearly 100 award nominations each year.”Calhoun most recently led communications for the integrated Paramount Streaming team, which includes Paramount+, Pluto TV and Showtime, and oversaw programming publicity, media and talent relations, events, photography, awards, film festivals, philanthropy, sports and corporate branding. She also has oversight of cross-company publicity.A seasoned communications executive with decades of experience,, Calhoun joined Showtime in 2017 and was named EVP Communications in 2020. She subsequently added oversight of communications for Paramount TV Studios.Calhoun came to Showtime from NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, where she served as VP Corporate Communications, managing trade and business strategies and internal communications for USA Network and Syfy. Prior to joining NBC, Calhoun worked for six years at Discovery Communications as VP Communications.Previously, Calhoun spent 10 years as an independent consultant for various clients including TNT, TBS, Disney Channel, Discovery and GSN (Game Show Network). Before that, Calhoun worked at TNT for three years as a unit publicist and press project manager, overseeing unit publicity for TNT original films. Calhoun began her career at The Today Show as a talent coordinator.
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