Skydance has started turning its newly merged studio into an operating company built around fan franchises. President Andy Gordon announced a new round of division heads in an internal memo, putting named leaders against games, consumer products, publishing, people and global operations.
The appointments follow the initial leadership list under co-CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz. Kreiz joined from Mattel last week, bringing toy and consumer-products experience into a company now combining Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. The merger closed Tuesday.
The new reporting map
Gordon’s memo sets the integration shape:
- Tony Driscoll, President, Games & Experiences, leads the global games and experiences portfolio and also keeps Corporate Strategy and Development.
- Josh Silverman, President, Global Products & Publishing, leads Consumer Products and Publishing.
- Jim Sterner, Chief People Officer, continues to lead People and Culture.
- Jose Turkienicz, President, Global Operations, continues to lead business services, real estate, procurement and studio operations.
- Jeff Silberman, EVP, Corporate Strategy, becomes Gordon’s Chief of Staff and retains the Integration Management Office.
Fandom moves to the centre
The most consequential signal is that games, experiences, consumer products and publishing are being framed as core growth engines rather than support functions. Gordon told employees, “We want to meet consumers wherever they watch, play, and engage.” He also flagged DC Comics storytelling and e-commerce as opportunities to connect fans with brands they already follow.
For entertainment marketers, that means the combined company is likely to move faster on screen-to-shelf extensions: a film or series can feed a game release, a live experience, a publishing programme and a commerce push through one franchise strategy.
The franchise flywheel
The structure maps to a franchise flywheel. Film and TV create awareness; games and experiences deepen participation; consumer products and e-commerce capture demand. Gordon’s framing puts direct-to-consumer alongside TV and film, making streaming a distribution channel for the same fan base rather than a standalone division.
For brand partners, this consolidation creates a clearer entry point for cross-format deals. But the integration still has to move quickly; every extra layer of coordination can slow the speed Gordon says he wants.
Why it matters now
The appointment round is less about individual names than about integration speed. By keeping executives such as Sterner and Turkienicz in place while giving Driscoll and Silverman growth-facing portfolios, Skydance is signalling continuity in operations and fresh focus in fan monetisation. Silberman’s dual role as Chief of Staff and integration lead gives Gordon a direct lever to connect strategy to execution.
Marketers and media planners should watch for coordinated DC-led campaigns that bundle ticketing, merchandise, gaming and streaming promotions. The structure also suggests that licensing conversations may start earlier, while content is still in development, rather than after a title proves itself.
Source: Deadline
