Sources say Nevins, who currently serves as the chairman and CEO of Paramount Premium Group (which included Showtime) and chief creative officer of Paramount+ scripted series, is stepping down from his post just over a year after being named to the expanded role.Nevins will officially depart at the end of the year. As part of the shakeup, Showtime Networks will now fall under Chris McCarthy and his Paramount Media Networks oversight. Showtime’s digital OTT operation now moves to Paramount Streaming, under Tom Ryan, while BET and Paramount Television Studios will now report to George Cheeks, the president and CEO of CBS who already oversaw news and sports at Paramount+ as chief content officer.“This change has also given us the opportunity to more closely align our studios, networks and streaming operations as we execute on our vision and strategy for the future,” Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish said in a memo to staffers. “To that end, we have made additional adjustments to our leadership structure.”Insiders said Nevins — a tenured network exec and producer — no longer felt like he had a place in the company as it continued to evolve its structure. In recent months, one insider said there was a sense that Nevins might depart, given the sense that there were “too many cooks” inside the company. There was also a sense that besides “Yellowjackets,” Showtime had been struggling to maintain relevancy in a crowded field of programmers. And there’s also the ongoing talk of Showtime being absorbed inside Paramount+; Nevins’ exit will likely add to that chatter.“Over the past several months I’ve come to the conclusion that I am ready for the next phase of my life and my career,” Nevins said in a note to staff which was obtained by Variety Thursday. “The industry is transforming rapidly, and I am genuinely excited about what the future holds. Most importantly, the leadership team led by Jana Winograde, Gary Levine, Scott Mills and Nicole Clemens are more than ready. The 2023 slate is set, and I believe the coming year’s schedules from Showtime, BET, and Paramount Television Studios are going to be the most ambitious and exciting group of shows we’ve ever put out in a single year. I can’t wait to watch it happen.”Nevins joined Showtime in 2010 as entertainment president, following a long run as the head of Imagine Television. Most recently, he served as chief content officer, scripted originals, Paramount Plus and chairman/CEO, Showtime Networks — part of a new structure inside Paramount Global that was finalized in September 2021. That put Nevins in charge of scripted originals for Paramount Plus as well as all aspects of Showtime Networks and its channels, along with BET. Nevins also served as chief creative officer of CBS for a period of time following Leslie Mooves’ exit and before Cheeks’ arrival.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news that Nevins was exiting Paramount Global.