Paramount Skydance Taps Dennis Cinelli as CFO

Paramount Skydance has officially named Dennis Cinelli as its new chief financial officer, a significant leadership appointment that comes at a pivotal moment for the media conglomerate. The decision to bring in the seasoned finance veteran is being closely watched as the company navigates a complex corporate maneuver.

This strategic hire is not occurring in a vacuum. It takes place against the backdrop of an ongoing and aggressive hostile takeover bid for rival media giant Warner Bros. Discovery. The timing suggests a need for robust financial leadership as the company pursues its ambitious expansion goals.

Cinelli arrives at Paramount Skydance with a formidable resume built in the high-stakes worlds of technology and transportation. His most recent position was serving as the chief financial officer for Scale AI, a prominent player in the artificial intelligence sector. This background indicates a focus on modernizing financial strategy within the legacy media space.

Before his tenure at Scale AI, Cinelli honed his financial acumen at Uber, where he held senior roles. His experience at a company known for rapid global scaling and complex financial operations makes him a valuable asset. The executive's background includes:

• Deep experience in the technology sector
• Expertise in managing finances for high-growth companies
• A background in both public and private market environments

Cinelli's appointment is not a complete surprise to those watching the company's recent movements. He had already been integrated into the corporate structure, having joined the Paramount Skydance board of directors in September 2025. This move occurred shortly after the transformative merger involving David Ellison's Skydance.

His prior board-level engagement suggests a seamless transition and a pre-established rapport with the company's leadership. This existing familiarity likely smoothed the path for his elevation to the C-suite, ensuring strategic continuity as the company pursues its takeover ambitions.

The backdrop to this executive news is the intense corporate struggle for control of Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount Skydance is in the midst of a hostile takeover bid, a high-pressure situation that demands sharp financial oversight and strategic capital allocation. The CFO role is critical in such an environment.

Bringing in an executive with Cinelli's profile sends a clear signal about the company's intentions. It demonstrates a commitment to fortifying its leadership team with talent capable of managing large-scale financial complexities. The stakes are incredibly high in this battle for media dominance.

This appointment is a key piece in a much larger strategic puzzle for David Ellison and his vision for the combined entity. By securing a CFO with experience in dynamic, modern industries, Paramount Skydance is positioning itself to operate with the agility of a tech company, even as it manages traditional media assets. The fusion of tech and entertainment finance expertise is a powerful combination.

The move solidifies the company's executive bench strength at a time when it needs it most. As the takeover fight for Warner Bros. Discovery continues, having a trusted financial architect in place is paramount. It ensures that the company's financial strategy remains disciplined and forward-looking.

The hiring of Dennis Cinelli is more than a routine executive placement; it is a calculated power play by Paramount Skydance. It underscores the company's serious intent in its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery and its commitment to building a leadership team capable of executing a complex, large-scale vision.

Key indicators to watch moving forward include:

• How Cinelli's tech background influences financial strategy
• The next moves in the Warner Bros. Discovery takeover saga
• Further integration of Skydance and Paramount operations