Paramount Changes Technical Leadership During Digital Restructuring

May 15, 2026, 16:15
USTechnology

Introduction

Phil Wiser, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Paramount, has announced that he will leave the company on May 29.

Main Body

Mr. Wiser is leaving after seven years with the company, a period that included the merger of Viacom and CBS and the later integration with Skydance. Chief Product Officer Dane Glasgow emphasized that Mr. Wiser played a key role in growing the company's global streaming services and updating its technical systems. This change happens as CEO David Ellison leads a new strategy to improve data capabilities and technology to better compete with rivals like Netflix. Instead of hiring a new CTO, the company has decided to share the leadership responsibilities. Mr. Wiser's duties will now be divided among four executives: Laksh Nathan, Jim Harrison, Frank Governale, and Carlo Joseph, who will all report to Mr. Glasgow. Furthermore, this new structure supports the goal of combining the technical platforms of Paramount+ and Pluto TV. To help with this digital transformation, Paramount is also hiring experienced professionals from Meta and Google.

Conclusion

Mr. Wiser will leave the company at the end of May to start new projects in the field of enterprise artificial intelligence.

Learning

🚀 The 'B2 Leap': Moving Beyond Simple Verbs

At the A2 level, you likely say: "Mr. Wiser is leaving the company." That is correct, but it is basic. To reach B2, you need to describe processes and changes using more sophisticated phrasing.

💡 The Power of 'Nominalization'

Look at this phrase from the text: "digital restructuring" and "digital transformation."

Instead of using a verb (e.g., "The company is restructuring"), the author uses a noun ("restructuring"). This is a hallmark of B2 professional English. It makes your speaking and writing sound more objective and formal.

Compare these two levels:

  • A2 (Action-focused): They want to combine the platforms.
  • B2 (Result-focused): The goal is the combination of the platforms.

🛠️ Vocabulary Upgrade: 'The Corporate Bridge'

Stop using "do/make" for everything. Use these B2-level alternatives found in the article:

  1. "Played a key role in..." →\rightarrow (Instead of: "He helped a lot with...")
  2. "Divided among..." →\rightarrow (Instead of: "Given to different people...")
  3. "Report to..." →\rightarrow (Instead of: "Talk to their boss...")

⚠️ Pro-Tip: Collocations

Notice how "technical systems" and "global streaming services" work together. In B2 English, we don't just learn words; we learn word partners (collocations).

  • Bad: "World streaming things"
  • Good: "Global streaming services"

Challenge for your brain: Next time you describe a change at work or school, don't just use a verb. Try to name the process (e.g., instead of "I am organizing my room," try "I am starting a room reorganization").

Vocabulary Learning

merger (n.)
the act of combining two companies into one
Example:The merger of Viacom and CBS created a larger media conglomerate.
integration (n.)
the process of combining or unifying separate parts into a whole
Example:The integration with Skydance streamlined operations across the company.
emphasized (v.)
to give special importance or attention to something
Example:Chief Product Officer Dane Glasgow emphasized the importance of growing the streaming services.
strategy (n.)
a plan of action designed to achieve a long‑term or overall aim
Example:CEO David Ellison leads a new strategy to improve data capabilities.
capabilities (n.)
the abilities or skills that a person or system has
Example:Improving data capabilities will help the company compete better.
rivals (n.)
companies or individuals that compete with each other
Example:The company must compete with rivals like Netflix.
leadership (n.)
the action or position of leading a group or organization
Example:The company decided to share the leadership responsibilities.
responsibilities (n.)
duties or tasks that someone is expected to perform
Example:The leadership responsibilities will be divided among four executives.
executives (n.)
high‑ranking managers in an organization
Example:Four executives will report to Mr. Glasgow.
structure (n.)
the arrangement of parts or elements in a system
Example:The new structure supports the goal of combining platforms.
combining (v.)
joining two or more things together into one
Example:The goal is combining the technical platforms of Paramount+ and Pluto TV.
platforms (n.)
systems or services that provide a foundation for other products or services
Example:The technical platforms of Paramount+ and Pluto TV will be combined.
transformation (n.)
a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance
Example:To help with this digital transformation, Paramount is hiring professionals.
experienced (adj.)
having knowledge or skill gained over time
Example:Paramount is hiring experienced professionals from Meta and Google.
professionals (n.)
people who work in a specific field with expertise
Example:Experienced professionals will help with the digital transformation.
enterprise (adj.)
relating to a large business or company
Example:Enterprise artificial intelligence is used to optimize business processes.
artificial (adj.)
made or produced by humans rather than occurring naturally
Example:Artificial intelligence can simulate human reasoning.
intelligence (n.)
the ability to learn, understand, and apply knowledge
Example:Enterprise artificial intelligence involves large‑scale data analysis.