Paramount Global, which has agreed to be acquired by Skydance Media, is going through another executive change. In this case though, a veteran executive is moving into a new key role.
Marva Smalls, executive vp, global head of inclusion at Paramount and executive vp, public affairs at Nickelodeon is stepping away from her current roles at the end of 2024 to take on a new role that will see her working directly with the Office of the CEO, the company board and Skydance in the transition to the post-deal Paramount.
The Office of the CEO at Paramount consists of George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins. “We want to acknowledge the tremendous impact Marva has had in her current role at Paramount and thank her for her many contributions,” the co-CEOs said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “Her career in entertainment started at Nickelodeon where she created the public affairs division and built programs to give Paramount credibility among regulators, advocates and community-based organizations.”
They added: “After assuming the additional role as head of global inclusion, Marva worked to deliver a vision that put our company on a path toward walking the talk on inclusion. A strong partner to our board of directors and senior leadership teams, she championed the principle of everyday inclusion, which is the fabric of our business and what we strive to do every day. Over the next two months, we’ll be working closely with Marva on a transition plan to cover her roles as the global head of inclusion and public affairs at Nickelodeon.”
Before joining Viacom in 1993, Smalls served as the chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Robin Tallon (D-SC) and also served in South Carolina Governor Richard Riley’s administration. She was the first African American chief of staff for a white Southern Member of Congress, according to Paramount’s bio of her.
Smalls is also a founding member of the Black Economic Alliance and serves on several boards, including of the American Theatre Wing, the International African American Museum, the James Beard Foundation, the Heisman Trophy Trust, and Synovus Bank/South Carolina.
Read Smalls’ memo to staff below.
Team,
A year ago, I informed the CEO of my intention to step away from my roles as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Inclusion for Paramount and Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for Nickelodeon at the end of this calendar year. This was a decision that I had wrestled with and to which I have given considerable thought and reflection. I have since been asked and have agreed to accept a new role, effective January 1, 2025, to work directly with the Office of the CEO, the Board of Directors and Skydance in transitioning to the new Paramount.
I want to thank you for your individual and collective partnership in driving a Paramount organization that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive, and one that empowers its youngest audience, kids, to be catalysts for change. I am tremendously proud of the efforts that we have undertaken to drive a culture of belonging and one where we do not have to check our individuality at the door. And I am equally proud of how we have helped sow the seeds of respect for different cultures and lived experiences with future generations.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to have traveled with you these past 30 years on our shared journey to giving voice to the marginalized, to empowering those who have been excluded, to affirming our audiences in all their diversity, and to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture throughout Paramount. And importantly, it has been a distinct privilege to partner with Shari and the board, our senior leaders and management teams in always having inclusion as a core part of driving our business forward.
Please know that my commitment to this mission and to all of you remains unequivocal and unwavering. And it will certainly continue in my new role.
Over the next two months, I’ll be working closely with George, Chris and Brian on a transition plan and will follow up with more details soon.
Onward,
Marva