Bob Bakish

Bob Bakish
Born	Robert Marc Bakish 14 12, 1963
Birthplace	Englewood, New Jersey, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Known for	Former President and CEO of Paramount Global
Education	Master of Business Administration
Children	2
Awards	Distinguished Alumni, Dwight-Englewood School

Robert Marc Bakish (born December 14, 1963) is an American business executive who served as president and chief executive officer of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS and, before that, Viacom) from December 4, 2019, until his departure on April 29, 2024. Over the course of more than two decades at Viacom and its successor companies, Bakish rose from a strategy and corporate development role to lead one of the world's largest media and entertainment conglomerates. His tenure encompassed the reunification of Viacom and CBS Corporation, the rebranding of the combined entity as Paramount Global, and the company's ambitious push into streaming with Paramount+. Born and raised in New Jersey, Bakish was educated at Columbia University's engineering and business schools before entering the media industry. His departure from Paramount in 2024 came amid declining stock performance and tensions surrounding a potential major merger of the company, and he subsequently received a severance package that attracted significant media attention.

Early Life

Robert Marc Bakish was born on December 14, 1963, in Englewood, New Jersey, in the United States. He grew up in the northern New Jersey area and attended Dwight-Englewood School, a private college preparatory school in Englewood. The school later recognized him as one of its distinguished alumni.

Bakish's educational path and early career trajectory suggest an orientation toward both engineering and business strategy. After graduating from Dwight-Englewood School, he pursued his undergraduate and graduate education at Columbia University in New York City, an institution with which he maintained a long association throughout his professional career.

Education

Bakish attended Columbia University, where he earned degrees from both the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Columbia Business School. He obtained a Master of Business Administration from Columbia. Bakish maintained a close relationship with his alma mater in the years following his graduation. He served on the Board of Visitors of the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science. He also served on the board of the Columbia Business School. In 2013, Bakish was invited to deliver the Class Day address at Columbia's engineering school, where he spoke to graduates in his capacity as CEO of Viacom International Media Networks.

Career

Early Career and Entry into Viacom

Before joining Viacom, Bakish worked as a management consultant. According to his Bloomberg executive profile, he accumulated experience in corporate strategy and development before transitioning into the media industry. He joined Viacom in the late 1990s and initially worked in the company's strategy and corporate development operations, helping to guide Viacom's business planning and growth initiatives.

Rise Through Viacom

Bakish's ascent within Viacom accelerated in the mid-2000s. In July 2004, Viacom underwent a significant executive reorganization under its then-leadership, shuffling operations and executive responsibilities. The restructuring, reported by The New York Times, reflected the broader strategic shifts taking place at the media conglomerate during a period of industry upheaval. Forbes also reported on the restructuring as part of a broader shake-up at Viacom.

In 2007, Bakish was appointed to an international role at MTV Networks, a key division of Viacom. Variety reported that Bakish was given an expanded international portfolio at MTV, signaling his growing importance within the organization. The Hollywood Reporter similarly noted Bakish's rise at MTV Networks, describing his expanded responsibilities within the division.

Bakish was subsequently appointed president of MTV Networks International (MTVNI), reporting to Bill Roedy, who retained the role of chairman and CEO of the international division. In this capacity, Bakish oversaw MTV's international operations, which spanned dozens of countries and included localized versions of MTV and other Viacom channels. Variety reported that MTV International under Bakish's leadership was "plotting a second act," seeking to expand its global footprint and diversify beyond music programming.

Bakish later recalled the early days of Viacom's Indian joint venture, Viacom18, as a pivotal and risky undertaking. In an interview, he described the launch as a "go big or go home play," reflecting the aggressive strategy Viacom pursued in expanding into the Indian media market.

His international experience became one of the defining features of his executive profile. Bakish's work in growing Viacom's presence outside the United States gave him a perspective on global media distribution and content localization that would later inform his strategic vision as CEO.

CEO of Viacom

In November 2016, Viacom named Bob Bakish as interim CEO of the company, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The appointment came during a turbulent period for Viacom, which had experienced internal corporate governance disputes involving the Redstone family, declining ratings at several of its cable networks, and questions about the company's long-term strategic direction. Bakish was subsequently confirmed as the permanent president and CEO of Viacom.

As CEO, Bakish set about refocusing Viacom's portfolio around its strongest brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, and Comedy Central. He emphasized the importance of content investment and the need to adapt to the rapidly evolving media landscape, in which streaming platforms were increasingly dominating consumer attention. Business Insider noted Bakish's prominence as a media industry executive, inviting him to speak at its annual Ignition conference in 2017.

Bakish's tenure as Viacom CEO was marked by efforts to stabilize the company's cable networks, invest in content production, and explore new distribution models. He also participated in discussions and events organized by the Financial Times, where he was featured as a speaker discussing the future of media.

Merger and Paramount Global

A defining moment in Bakish's career came with the reunification of Viacom and CBS Corporation. The two companies, which had been split apart in 2006, merged on December 4, 2019, forming ViacomCBS (later renamed Paramount Global). Bakish was named president and CEO of the newly combined entity, overseeing a media portfolio that included CBS's broadcast television network, Paramount Pictures' film studio, and Viacom's suite of cable channels.

Under Bakish's leadership, ViacomCBS launched Paramount+ as its flagship streaming service, positioning it as a competitor to Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and other major streaming platforms. The company rebranded itself as Paramount Global in early 2022, reflecting the centrality of the Paramount brand to its identity and strategy.

Bakish's strategy for Paramount Global centered on leveraging the company's vast content library—including franchises such as Star Trek, SpongeBob SquarePants, Mission: Impossible, and Yellowstone—to drive subscriber growth for Paramount+. The Yellowstone franchise, developed by Taylor Sheridan, became one of the company's signature content assets during this period. A report by The Ankler later detailed how the series originated from a risk taken by Paramount executive Kevin Kay, who championed Sheridan's vision.

Departure from Paramount

Bakish's tenure as CEO of Paramount Global ended on April 29, 2024. His departure came amid a period of declining stock market performance for Paramount and ongoing discussions about a potential major merger or acquisition of the company. Reports indicated that Bakish clashed with Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global through National Amusements, over the company's strategic direction and potential deal-making.

Following Bakish's exit, Paramount Global installed a trio of co-CEOs—George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins—to lead the company during a transitional period.

Compensation and Severance

In April 2025, Paramount Global disclosed Bakish's 2024 compensation in a proxy filing, revealing that his total pay for the year amounted to approximately $86.96 million, a 178% increase over his 2023 compensation of $31.3 million. The bulk of this figure was attributed to his severance package.

Variety reported that Bakish received $69.3 million in severance compensation alone, describing it as a "golden parachute" that the executive received after being dismissed from his position. Fortune similarly characterized the payment as a significant severance arrangement, noting the contrast between Bakish's ouster following clashes with Shari Redstone and the size of his compensation package.

Deadline reported that Bakish's total 2024 pay approached $87 million when all components were included, while the three co-CEOs who succeeded him—Cheeks, McCarthy, and Robbins—each earned approximately $20 million in 2024. The Hollywood Reporter also disclosed the compensation figures, noting that the combined earnings of the three co-CEOs exceeded $61 million for the year.

The size of Bakish's severance attracted considerable media coverage and commentary about executive compensation practices in the entertainment industry, particularly given Paramount's financial difficulties at the time of his departure.

Personal Life

Bakish has two children. He has maintained a connection to his educational institutions, serving on the boards of both the Columbia Business School and the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science. He was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of the Dwight-Englewood School.

Bakish has resided in the New Jersey area, where he grew up. Details about his private life beyond these publicly documented facts are limited in available sources.

Recognition

Bakish's career in the media industry brought him recognition from several institutions. His alma mater, Dwight-Englewood School, named him among its distinguished alumni, and the school highlighted his career achievements on its website. He was also featured in a news item by the school noting his professional accomplishments.

Columbia University recognized Bakish through his selection as the 2013 Class Day speaker for the School of Engineering and Applied Science, an honor typically reserved for accomplished alumni. His service on the boards of both the Columbia Business School and the engineering school's Board of Visitors further reflected his standing within the university community.

During his time as a media executive, Bakish was invited to speak at prominent industry events, including the Business Insider Ignition conference and Financial Times live events, reflecting his profile as a leading figure in the global media sector.

The Financial Times profiled Bakish during his time at Viacom, examining his role in the company's international expansion and strategic direction.

Legacy

Bob Bakish's career at Viacom and Paramount Global spanned more than two decades, during which time he played a central role in the company's international expansion, its transformation through the Viacom-CBS reunification, and its entry into the streaming wars. His appointment as CEO in 2016 came at a moment of crisis for Viacom, and he is credited with stabilizing the company during a period of significant industry disruption.

The merger of Viacom and CBS under Bakish's leadership created one of the largest media companies in the world, bringing together broadcast television, cable networks, a major film studio, and a growing streaming platform under a single corporate umbrella. The launch and growth of Paramount+ represented a significant strategic bet on the future of direct-to-consumer distribution in the entertainment industry.

However, Bakish's tenure also coincided with broader challenges facing legacy media companies, including cord-cutting, intensifying streaming competition, and the financial strain of simultaneously operating traditional television businesses while investing heavily in streaming. Paramount Global's stock performance declined during this period, contributing to the circumstances surrounding his departure.

His exit and the subsequent disclosure of his $69.3 million severance package became a focal point in broader discussions about executive compensation in Hollywood and the media industry, particularly at a time when many media companies were implementing cost-cutting measures, including layoffs.

Bakish's international experience—particularly his work in building Viacom's presence in markets such as India through Viacom18—contributed to the company's global footprint and represented a strategic direction that distinguished Viacom from some of its domestic competitors.