As Skydance and Paramount Global prepare for their merger to be completed tomorrow, July 7, more senior Paramount executives are leaving.
Liza Burnett Fefferman is stepping down as EVP and Head Of Communications for Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. She just notified her staff of her pending departure.
It comes as the two top executives Fefferman worked closely with, Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President of Showtime/MTV Entertainment, and Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer for Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, are also leaving upon the merger closing.
Fefferman has worked for McCarthy since first joining then-Viacom in 2016 and, along with Diaz, was most recently member of his five-person senior leadership team. After the merger, McCarthy’s portfolio is being split between three executives, George Cheeks, Dana Goldberg and Cindy Holland.
In her role as Head Of Communications for Showtime/MTVE Studios and Paramount Media Nets, Fefferman oversaw corporate, strategy, media relations, crisis, internal, social impact, programming, consumer insights and awards for the portfolio, which includes the studios arm as well as MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Smithsonian Channel, CMT, Pop TV, TV Land and Logo. She also was the Co-Head of MTV Documentary Films, which she founded. During her tenure, the labels under her purview have earned 193 Emmy nominations and 50 wins as well as seven Oscar nominations and two Peabody Awards.
“From the seismic shifts in media to a global pandemic to personal triumphs and heartbreaking losses, we navigated the highs and lows together, having each other’s backs every step of the way,” she wrote in her farewell message, which you can read in full below.
A seasoned communications executive who founded DKC/Film and worked for Radius, Samuel Goldwyn Films, and The Weinstein Co., Fefferman joined Paramount Global predecessor Viacom in May 2016 to lead communications for VH1 and Logo. She added MTV less than a year later, followed by CMT in October 2018, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Smithsonian Channel, TV Land, Pop and MTV Entertainment Studios in January 2020 and Showtime in February 2023.
Here is her memo:
To The Best Team + Dear Colleagues,
Grateful doesn’t even begin to cut it.
In 2016, I came to Viacom to run Communications for Logo and VH1 joining a small but mighty group who consistently outpunched their weight.
Nearly a decade later, our remit has substantially grown but that same hustle, impeccable work ethic and results-oriented commitment, remain steadfast.
You define teamwork, set the bar sky high with creativity, innovation, and a dedication to excellence yielding extraordinary results. And beyond the buzzy “surround sound” we strive for on every campaign, premiere and tentpole, I’m equally proud of the grace and professionalism shown when navigating sticky situations and finding optimal solutions.
Together we’ve had the privilege of championing some of the company’s most significant milestones – helping to launch Paramount+, building the Taylor Sheridan universe, welcoming back both TV’s most beloved serial killer and everyone’s favorite late night host, as well as co-founding MTV Documentary Films with the one and only Sheila Nevins – all while doing good along the way.
Our boundary-breaking social impact initiatives across Mental Health Action and Youth Voter Access drove movements and changed minds while our best-in-class content was recognized by the Oscars®, Peabodys, Globes, SAG and the Emmys® with 50 wins.
From the seismic shifts in media to a global pandemic to personal triumphs and heartbreaking losses, we navigated the highs and lows together, having each other’s backs every step of the way.
As I begin the next chapter, my warmest thanks, and best wishes to a phenomenal group of all stars.
x
Liza
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