Bob Bakish
Robert Bakish | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Marc Bakish December 14, 1963 New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1990–2024 |
| Known for | CEO of Paramount Global (2019–2024) |
Robert Marc Bakish (; born December 14, 1963) is an American corporate leader who held the positions of president and CEO at Paramount Global starting December 4, 2019, following the CBS-Viacom merger. Prior to this, he occupied the same executive roles at Viacom. He stepped down on April 29, 2024, during a period when Paramount was exploring a significant merger due to disappointing stock market results.
Early life and education
Originally from New Jersey, Bakish completed his secondary education at Dwight-Englewood School in 1981. He then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in operations research from Columbia University's School of Engineering and Applied Science in 1985. Subsequently, he obtained an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1989.
Following his MBA graduation, Bakish began his career at consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton in 1990, where he eventually became a partner specializing in media and entertainment.
Initial roles
Bakish entered Viacom in February 1997 as vice president of planning and development. By January 1998, he had been promoted to senior vice president overseeing planning, development, and technology.
By October 1999, he took on the role of executive vice president for planning and business development at Viacom's subsidiary MTV Networks. Between 2001 and 2004, Bakish acted as executive vice president and chief operating officer responsible for advertising sales at MTV Networks.
In 2004, he advanced to executive vice president of operations at Viacom, Inc., and two years later also assumed the position of executive vice president at Viacom Enterprises. His responsibilities encompassed strategic planning and business development across multiple divisions such as Famous Music, Famous Players, Viacom Plus sales, information services, and technology. Additionally, he directed Viacom’s cross-divisional marketing council.
Leadership in international operations
In January 2007, Bakish was named president of MTV Networks International (MTVNI), managing financial and operational activities outside the United States. He restructured MTVNI by reducing the workforce by approximately 8%, consolidating certain overseas units with the UK branch, and decentralizing Latin American operations to regional offices. Under his guidance, MTVNI launched the Colors network through the Viacom18 joint venture in India. His leadership resulted in consistent double-digit annual growth for MTVNI.
Following the resignation of MTVNI CEO Bill Roedy in January 2011, Bakish was elevated to president and CEO of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). This expanded role gave him control over all Viacom’s international media networks including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, VH1, VIVA, TMF, Game One, and MTV Tres. It also included oversight of international joint ventures such as Viacom18 in India, ViacomSBS in South Korea, as well as partnerships with entities like BSkyB in the UK and Foxtel in Australia. At that time, VIMN operated 145 channels across 160 countries along with digital platforms and consumer product lines.
During his leadership tenure, Bakish significantly broadened Viacom’s global presence by doubling VIMN’s revenue and increasing its channel portfolio to over 200. He was responsible for launching the Paramount Channel throughout Europe, Latin America, and Russia; expanding Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and Spike TV into new territories; and facilitating acquisitions including the UK’s Channel 5 and Argentina’s Telefe. Furthermore, he spearheaded digital innovation efforts such as introducing the Viacom Play Plex mobile TV applications and launching the BET Play subscription video-on-demand service tailored for adult audiences.
CEO
In October 2016, Viacom appointed Bob Bakish as acting president and CEO, effective November 15, succeeding interim CEO Tom Dooley. Concurrently, he took on the role of president and CEO for the newly established Viacom Global Entertainment Group, which merged Viacom International Media Networks with the Music and Entertainment division, encompassing MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Spike TV, Logo TV, TV Land, and CMT. On December 12, 2016, the board confirmed Bakish’s position permanently, expressing confidence in his vision to rejuvenate Viacom’s primary U.S. cable channels and Paramount Pictures.
At the start of 2017, Bakish unveiled a comprehensive five-point plan aimed at restoring Viacom’s consistent profitability by concentrating on six key brands: BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and Paramount. This approach prioritized refreshing content and talent acquisition; strengthening relationships with distributors and advertisers; broadening digital platforms, consumer products, and live event offerings; and enhancing organizational effectiveness. Paramount Pictures was assigned to develop films linked to Viacom’s television properties. In early 2018, Spike TV was rebranded as the Paramount Network.
By late 2017, Bakish had reorganized Viacom’s executive team, including appointing Jim Gianopulos as chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures. The execution of his five-point plan resulted in marked improvements in both financial performance and employee morale by 2018. That year also saw Viacom acquire digital entities such as WhoSay, the online video conference VidCon, and the internet television network AwesomenessTV to better engage younger and digital audiences. Bakish revealed intentions to launch a Viacom streaming platform featuring ad-supported exclusive content. In April 2018, Viacom introduced Viacom Digital Studios to produce original programming for social media platforms like Facebook and Snapchat. Later in the year, the company began creating exclusive series for Netflix starting with Nickelodeon-based content.
Bakish’s leadership turnaround earned him the 20th spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s 2018 list of entertainment’s most influential executives. He maintained his CEO role following the December 2019 merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom into ViacomCBS (later rebranded as Paramount Global).
In 2023, Bakish's total earnings from Paramount Global amounted to $31.1 million, representing a CEO-to-median employee pay ratio of 274-to-1.
During December 2023, Bakish engaged in merger discussions with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav; however, regulatory concerns led to a halt in negotiations by February 2024.
On April 28, 2024, reports surfaced that Bakish would step down as Paramount Global CEO amid ongoing merger talks with Skydance Media. Upon completion of the deal, Skydance CEO David Ellison is anticipated to succeed him. Following Bakish’s exit, three interim co-CEOs—including Brian Robbins and Chris McCarthy—were appointed.
Board memberships
Since the merger forming Paramount Global, Bakish has been a member of its board of directors; prior to that he served on Viacom’s board from December 2016 until the merger. Additionally, he holds a board seat at Avid Technology, Inc.
He participates on Columbia Business School’s Board of Overseers and contributes actively within its Media & Technology Forum. Furthermore, he is a member of the Board of Visitors at Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Bakish chaired Viacom 18 Media's board from 2007 until February 2018 and led the Cable Television Advertising Bureau as chairman from 2003 through 2005.
Personal life
Bakish lives in New York with his wife, Dee, and together they have two daughters.