Bob Bakish

Bob Bakish
Born	Robert Marc Bakish 14 12, 1963
Birthplace	Englewood, New Jersey, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Title	President and CEO of Paramount Global (2019–2024)
Known for	Former President and CEO of Paramount Global
Education	Master of Business Administration
Children	2

Robert Marc Bakish (born December 14, 1963), known professionally as Bob Bakish, is an American business executive who served as the president and chief executive officer of Paramount Global from the company's formation on December 4, 2019, until his departure on April 29, 2024. A career-long executive within the Viacom corporate family, Bakish rose through the ranks over more than two decades, holding leadership positions across the company's domestic and international operations before ascending to the top role. His tenure at the helm of Paramount Global was marked by the challenges of navigating the media industry's transition to streaming, the integration of the former Viacom and CBS Corporation assets, and intensifying competition from technology companies and rival studios. Bakish's departure in 2024 came amid declining stock performance and discussions surrounding a potential major merger of the company, and he subsequently received one of the largest severance packages in recent entertainment industry history. His career trajectory — from an operations analyst and strategy consultant to the leader of one of the world's largest media conglomerates — traced the arc of an industry undergoing profound transformation.

Early Life

Robert Marc Bakish was born on December 14, 1963, in Englewood, New Jersey, a borough in Bergen County located across the Hudson River from New York City. He grew up in the northern New Jersey area and attended Dwight-Englewood School, a private college preparatory school in Englewood. The school, which has educated a number of notable figures in business, entertainment, and public life, later recognized Bakish as a distinguished alumnus for his accomplishments in the media industry.

Details about Bakish's family background and childhood remain largely private. What is publicly documented is that he demonstrated early academic aptitude and an interest in business and technology, which guided his educational and professional choices in the years that followed.

Education

After graduating from Dwight-Englewood School, Bakish enrolled at Columbia University in New York City, one of the Ivy League institutions. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science. Bakish later returned to Columbia to pursue graduate studies, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia Business School.

Bakish has maintained close ties with his alma mater throughout his career. He has served on the Board of Visitors of the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, contributing to the school's strategic direction and engagement with the business community. He has also served on the Board of Overseers of Columbia Business School, further reflecting his ongoing involvement with the university. In 2013, Bakish was invited to deliver the Class Day address at the Columbia School of Engineering, where he spoke to graduating students about leadership, risk-taking, and the evolving media landscape.

Career

Early Career and Entry into Viacom

Before joining Viacom, Bakish worked as a management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, a global management and technology consulting firm. His work at the firm provided him with experience in corporate strategy, operations, and the telecommunications sector, which would prove relevant to his subsequent career in media.

Bakish joined Viacom in the late 1990s and quickly advanced through a series of operational and strategic roles. His early work at the company focused on corporate development and strategic planning, areas where his consulting background and engineering education were particularly applicable.

Rise at Viacom: Domestic Operations

By the early 2000s, Bakish had established himself as a key figure within Viacom's corporate structure. In July 2004, Viacom undertook a significant reorganization of its operations, and Bakish was among the executives who assumed expanded responsibilities as part of the restructuring under the company's new co-president structure. The 2004 reorganization was covered by multiple industry outlets, reflecting the significance of the executive changes to Viacom's strategic direction.

During this period, Bakish held roles overseeing Viacom's operational strategy and was involved in managing the company's portfolio of cable networks and media properties. His ability to manage complex organizational structures and drive efficiency across multiple business units distinguished him among his peers within the company.

MTV Networks International

A pivotal phase of Bakish's career began in 2007, when he was appointed president of MTV Networks International (MTVNI), the division responsible for Viacom's media brands outside the United States. In this role, Bakish reported to Bill Roedy, the longtime head of MTV Networks International, and was responsible for overseeing the expansion and management of MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and other Viacom-owned channels across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Under Bakish's leadership, MTV Networks International pursued an aggressive growth strategy, expanding its channel portfolio and investing in locally produced content in key markets around the world. This approach — localizing global brands rather than simply exporting American programming — became a hallmark of Bakish's strategic philosophy and one that would define his later leadership of the broader company.

One notable example of this strategy was the development of Viacom 18, a joint venture between Viacom and the TV18 group in India. Bakish later recalled the launch of Viacom 18 as a significant strategic bet, describing it as a "go big or go home play" that reflected the company's ambition to establish a meaningful presence in the rapidly growing Indian media market. The Indian venture grew to become one of the most significant international media operations in Viacom's portfolio.

Viacom International Media Networks

As MTV Networks International was reorganized and rebranded as Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), Bakish continued to lead the division in an expanded capacity. As president and CEO of VIMN, he oversaw a global portfolio of channels and digital properties spanning more than 180 countries. The division operated hundreds of locally programmed and operated channels, and Bakish was credited with significantly growing the international business during a period when many traditional media companies were struggling to expand outside their home markets.

In his role at VIMN, Bakish was recognized as a leading figure in international media. He participated in industry conferences and events, including the Financial Times Digital Media Conference, where he discussed the challenges and opportunities facing global media companies in the digital age. The Financial Times also profiled Bakish and his leadership of the international division during this period.

Interim and Permanent CEO of Viacom

In November 2016, amid a period of corporate turmoil at Viacom that included a public dispute over the leadership of controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone and the departure of then-CEO Philippe Dauman, Bakish was named interim CEO of Viacom. The appointment was seen as a stabilizing move by the company's board, led by Shari Redstone, who had emerged as the key decision-maker for the Redstone family's media interests following her father's declining health.

Bakish was subsequently named permanent president and CEO of Viacom, a position from which he embarked on an effort to revitalize the company's domestic cable networks, which had experienced ratings declines and loss of advertising revenue. His strategy focused on investing in fewer, higher-quality original programs, rebuilding relationships with pay-television distributors, and pursuing strategic partnerships to position Viacom for the streaming era.

A key element of Bakish's strategy at Viacom was the development and expansion of the company's streaming service, Pluto TV, a free, ad-supported streaming platform that Viacom acquired in 2019. The acquisition reflected Bakish's belief that Viacom needed to build a meaningful presence in the digital distribution space to remain competitive.

President and CEO of Paramount Global

On December 4, 2019, the merger of Viacom and CBS Corporation was completed, creating ViacomCBS, which was later rebranded as Paramount Global in 2022. Bakish was named president and CEO of the combined entity, overseeing a vast portfolio that included the CBS broadcast network, Paramount Pictures film studio, cable networks including MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, and Comedy Central, the Paramount+ streaming service, and the company's extensive international operations.

As CEO of Paramount Global, Bakish faced the dual challenge of managing legacy linear television businesses — which were experiencing secular decline in viewership and advertising revenue — while simultaneously investing heavily in the Paramount+ streaming service to compete with Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and other streaming rivals. The company's streaming strategy required billions of dollars in content spending, which weighed on profitability.

During this period, Bakish oversaw the expansion of Paramount's content pipeline, including the development of programming for the Yellowstone franchise on the Paramount Network, which became one of the most-watched cable series in the United States. The show, created by Taylor Sheridan, was the product of strategic content bets made by Paramount executives during this era.

Despite these efforts, Paramount Global's stock price declined significantly during Bakish's tenure as CEO of the combined company, reflecting investor concerns about the long-term viability of the company's business model, the high costs of streaming investment, and the erosion of traditional pay-television revenue.

Departure from Paramount Global

On April 29, 2024, Bakish departed from his role as president and CEO of Paramount Global. His departure came amid declining stock market performance and ongoing discussions about a potential major merger or sale of the company. Reports indicated that Bakish's departure was connected to disagreements with Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder, over the strategic direction of the company, particularly regarding potential merger partners.

Following Bakish's departure, Paramount Global appointed a trio of co-CEOs — George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins — to lead the company on an interim basis as merger discussions continued.

Personal Life

Bob Bakish has largely kept his personal life out of the public spotlight. He has two children. He has maintained his connections to his educational institutions, serving in advisory and governance roles at Columbia University's School of Engineering and Columbia Business School.

Bakish resides in the New York metropolitan area, consistent with his longstanding professional ties to the region's media industry.

Recognition

Severance and Compensation

Bakish's compensation became the subject of significant media attention following his departure from Paramount Global. In April 2025, regulatory filings disclosed that Bakish received $69.3 million in severance compensation as part of his separation from Paramount Global. His total 2024 compensation, including the severance package and other elements of his pay, amounted to approximately $86.96 million, representing a 178 percent increase over his 2023 compensation of $31.3 million. By some calculations, Bakish's total 2024 pay approached $87 million when all components were included.

The severance package was described in media reports as a "golden parachute" and drew attention for its size relative to the company's declining stock performance during Bakish's final year. The disclosure contributed to broader industry discussions about executive compensation in the media sector during a period of significant financial pressure and corporate restructuring.

Academic and Industry Recognition

Bakish was recognized as a distinguished alumnus by the Dwight-Englewood School, his secondary school alma mater, for his achievements in the media industry. His selection as the 2013 Class Day speaker at Columbia University's School of Engineering further reflected his standing in both the business and academic communities.

Legacy

Bob Bakish's career at Viacom and Paramount Global spanned more than two decades and encompassed one of the most transformative periods in the history of the media industry. His rise from a management consultant to the CEO of a major media conglomerate tracked the industry's shift from a business defined by broadcast and cable television to one increasingly dominated by streaming platforms and digital distribution.

Bakish's leadership of Viacom International Media Networks helped establish a model for global media expansion built on local content investment and market-specific programming strategies. The growth of Viacom 18 in India and the expansion of MTV, Nickelodeon, and other brands into markets across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa during his tenure at VIMN represented a period of significant international growth for the company.

As CEO of Paramount Global, Bakish oversaw the complex integration of the Viacom and CBS assets and the launch and expansion of the Paramount+ streaming service. While the company faced financial challenges and stock price declines during this period — pressures common across much of the traditional media industry — the strategic investments in streaming and content made under his leadership shaped the company's trajectory into a new era of media competition.

His departure in 2024, and the subsequent discussions about the sale or merger of Paramount Global, underscored the broader challenges facing mid-sized media conglomerates in competing with larger, more diversified technology and entertainment companies. The circumstances of Bakish's exit, including his substantial severance package, became part of a wider public conversation about executive compensation, corporate governance, and accountability in the entertainment industry.