Paramount Senior PR Exec Erin Calhoun Exits

Erin Calhoun, after seven years with Paramount Global where she led communications for Showtime and Paramount’s streaming division, is leaving the company at the end of September.

Calhoun’s departure comes amid broad cutbacks at Paramount, as the company looks to streamline roles across multiple departments. The company has announced it will lay off 15% of its U.S. workforce, eliminating about 2,000 jobs, ahead of its merger with Skydance Media.

Her exit was announced internally by Tom Ryan, president and CEO of Paramount Streaming, and Calhoun shared her own farewell note to staffers Thursday.

“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 wrote in his memo. He praised her leadership of “top-notch campaigns” for all of Paramount+ originals including “Fellow Travelers,” “The Curse,” “Frasier,” “Knuckles and “Special Ops: Lioness” as well as media relations for product and brand initiatives including Pluto TV’s 10th anniversary.

Calhoun most recently served as EVP, head of communications, for Paramount Streaming & Showtime and Cross-Company Publicity, a role she assumed in January 2023 when Showtime merged with Paramount+. Before that, she was EVP of communications for both Showtime and Paramount Television Studios. Calhoun joined Showtime in 2017 as SVP of corporate communications.

Earlier in her career, Calhoun held corporate communications roles at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and Discovery Communications and spent 10 years as an independent consultant for various clients, including TNT, TBS, Disney Channel, Discovery and Game Show Network. Calhoun began her career at NBC’s “Today” show as an executive assistant and talent coordinator.

Read Calhoun’s memo to staff:

Team,

After seven incredible years, I am sharing the news that I will be leaving Paramount. It has been a privilege to be a part of this organization, and I am filled with gratitude for the experiences and opportunities I have been fortunate to have but most of all the friendships I have made along the way.

During my time here, I had the honor of leading the communications team first at Showtime and most recently for Paramount Streaming, an experience that has been truly rewarding. I am very proud of this team and all we have accomplished. Together, we overcame several challenges and changes – always supporting each other as we focused on delivering amazing campaigns and record breaking results including launching numerous award winning shows, producing hundreds of premiere events and awards campaigns, and expertly navigating countless corporate communications initiatives.

While I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together, what truly has made this journey remarkable is this team and the people I have had the privilege to work with — the talented individuals who have not just been colleagues, but friends. I leave here with cherished memories that will stay with me forever. I am so grateful for every moment, for all the fun we have had together and for each and every one of you.
As I move forward to my next adventure, please know that I carry with me all the lessons learned, as well as the spirit of collaboration that we have cultivated together. Thank you for your support, your dedication, and your partnership.

I will be departing at the end of the month and l look forward to connecting with many of you prior to leaving. Wishing each of you all the best and continued success.

With heartfelt thanks,
Erin

Here is Ryan’s memo:

Hi Team

I want to share that Erin Calhoun is leaving Paramount after seven years with the company. I have had the great pleasure of working closely with Erin in her role as EVP, Head of Communications, Paramount Streaming & Showtime and Cross-Company Publicity, where she seamlessly brought together communications teams from Paramount+, Pluto TV and Showtime to create a unified function that crafted and accelerated our powerful streaming narrative.

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. 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.

As many of you know, Erin deftly built and elevated the Showtime brand during her time at Paramount, which included sending off hit series Shameless and Billions, as well as launching Yellowjackets and Dexter: New Blood. During a dynamic time at our company, Erin has also masterfully navigated bringing together teams from across Paramount to demonstrate the success of our combined offering in her role as head of Corporate Cross-Company Publicity. Her collaborative nature and approach were on display for this year’s Super Bowl where she helped manage the Corporate Communications efforts for the company.

I’m incredibly grateful for her countless contributions to Paramount but most of all her steadfast collaboration and expert counsel. Erin has been a trusted confidant and strategic partner, and I know she’ll have great success in all her future endeavors. Please join me in wishing Erin a heartfelt goodbye.

Tom