---
title: "Paramount streaming chief Cindy Holland exits ahead of WBD merger"
description: "Holland told staff CEO David Ellison was “optimizing for HBO stability” as the $110 billion deal nears completion"
author: "rews desk"
published: 2026-09-30T01:26:58Z
modified: 2026-09-30T07:08:16Z
url: https://rews.cc/a/paramount-streaming-chief-cindy-holland-exits-ahead-of-wbd-m-55a22a
language: en
tags: ["mergers", "streaming", "paramount", "hbo", "ellison", "business"]
publisher: "Rews (https://rews.cc)"
---

# Paramount streaming chief Cindy Holland exits ahead of WBD merger

*Holland told staff CEO David Ellison was “optimizing for HBO stability” as the $110 billion deal nears completion*

By rews desk · September 30, 2026 · https://rews.cc/a/paramount-streaming-chief-cindy-holland-exits-ahead-of-wbd-m-55a22a

## In brief

- Cindy Holland left her post as Paramount Skydance streaming chief on Tuesday
- Holland said CEO David Ellison was “optimizing for HBO stability” for the $110 billion WBD merger
- Paramount declined to confirm whether HBO’s Casey Bloys will head streaming
- Paramount settled an antitrust suit from 12 states last week, clearing the merger’s way
- The combined company would include Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., CBS, HBO, CNN and MTV

Paramount Skydance’s streaming chief, Cindy Holland, left the company on Tuesday as it moves to complete its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Holland told staff in a memo obtained by Business Insider that the day would be her last, and that the departure followed discussions with Paramount chief executive David Ellison about the $110 billion merger.

“As David readies for the next phase of his vision, we’ve discussed my role and the future of the combined businesses,” Holland wrote. “David is optimizing for HBO stability as we move into this next chapter, and I fully support that.”

A Paramount representative declined to confirm whether that meant HBO chief executive Casey Bloys would take over as head of streaming.

“Cindy is one of the most exceptional executives in our industry — a force of nature whose impact on Paramount over the past year has been significant,” Ellison said in a statement.

Holland joined Ellison’s team in January 2025 with three stated goals: advising on the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, integrating and transforming Paramount+ and reviving Pluto TV, and building the streaming team. In her memo, she said all three had been accomplished, and she credited the division with revenue, profit and subscriber growth.

She said Paramount+ reached an all-time subscriber high, delivered its best-ever retention and set records with *Landman*, the most-watched series in the service’s history, and *Dutton Ranch*, its biggest original series debut. She also cited streaming agreements with UFC and Zuffa Boxing, expanded WNBA and UEFA Champions League rights, and the largest product transformation at Pluto TV in a decade.

Paramount said last week that it had settled an antitrust lawsuit brought by 12 states, clearing the way for the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The company’s settlement over the merger has faced [criticism that it gives the public little](https://rews.cc/a/a-deal-the-groups-say-gives-the-public-virtually-nothing-goe-785a2a).

The company has said the deal is expected to close within weeks. It would combine Paramount Pictures, the Warner Bros. studio, CBS, HBO and television networks including CNN and MTV under one owner.