Liza Burnett Fefferman, the chief vice chairman of Showtime and MTV Leisure Studios and head of communications, is the newest Paramount worker to depart forward of the Skydance merger taking place on Thursday. She introduced her departure on Wednesday in a memo to her workforce obtained by TheWrap.
“In 2016, I got here to Viacom to run Communications for Emblem and VH1 becoming a member of a small however mighty group who constantly outpunched their weight,” Fefferman wrote in a memo to workers. “Practically a decade later, our remit has considerably grown however that very same hustle, impeccable work ethic and results-oriented dedication, stay steadfast.”
In her function at Paramount, Fefferman oversaw the corporate’s studios arm in addition to MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Community, Smithsonian Channel, CMT, Pop TV, TV Land and Emblem. She’s additionally the co-head of MTV Documentary Movies, a label she based and runs, which has been answerable for motion pictures similar to “¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!”
Fefferman oversaw all points of communication at Paramount, together with company, technique, media relations, thought management, disaster, inside, social influence, programming, shopper insights and awards. A revered chief within the business, she labored carefully with Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy as a member of his five-person senior management workforce. She additionally managed a 30-person division throughout New York, Los Angeles and Nashville.
McCarthy will even be departing Paramount as soon as the merger is full.
The communications government has been instrumental in selling a number of the greatest titles throughout the Showtime and MTV Leisure Studios ecosystem, together with Paramount Community’s “Yellowstone,” Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” and “Dexter” prolonged universe, Comedy Central’s “The Every day Present” and the MTV Leisure Studios-produced Netflix mega-hit “Emily in Paris.” She was additionally extremely concerned in setting the promotional technique round Paramount+’s slate of buzzy originals, which embrace Taylor Sheridan’s “Landman,” “Lioness,” “Tulsa King,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” “1883” and “1923.” These Paramount+ titles have helped set up the streamer as a significant participant within the streaming wars. Her awards campaigns additionally delivered 193 Emmy nominations and 50 wins.
She first joined ViacomCBS in 2016 because the senior vice chairman of Communications for VH1 and Emblem. She was then requested to tackle MTV lower than a yr later. By February of 2023, her purview included these three networks in addition to CMT, Comedy Central, Paramount Community, Smithsonian Channel, TV Land, Pop, MTV Leisure Studios and Showtime.
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To The Greatest Staff + Pricey Colleagues,
Grateful doesn’t even start to chop it.
In 2016, I got here to Viacom to run Communications for Emblem and VH1 becoming a member of a small however mighty group who constantly outpunched their weight.
Practically a decade later, our remit has considerably grown however that very same hustle, impeccable work ethic and results-oriented dedication, stay steadfast.
You outline teamwork, set the bar sky excessive with creativity, innovation, and a dedication to excellence yielding extraordinary outcomes. And past the buzzy “encompass sound” we try for on each marketing campaign, premiere and tentpole, I’m equally pleased with the grace and professionalism proven when navigating sticky conditions and discovering optimum options.
Collectively we’ve had the privilege of championing a number of the firm’s most vital milestones – serving to to launch Paramount+, constructing the Taylor Sheridan universe, welcoming again each TV’s most beloved serial killer and everybody’s favourite late night time host, in addition to co-founding MTV Documentary Movies with the one and solely Sheila Nevins – all whereas doing good alongside the way in which.
Our boundary-breaking social influence initiatives throughout Psychological Well being Motion and Youth Voter Entry drove actions and altered minds whereas our best-in-class content material was acknowledged by the Oscars, Peabodys, Globes, SAG and the Emmys with 50 wins.
From the seismic shifts in media to a world pandemic to non-public triumphs and heartbreaking losses, we navigated the highs and lows collectively, having one another’s backs each step of the way in which.
As I start the following chapter, my warmest thanks, and finest needs to an exceptional group of all stars.
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Liza