Long-time Paramount executive Barbara Zaneri is departing the company after 25 years.
Zaneri, chief program acquisitions officer at the company, is stepping down to focus full time on a nonprofit group she founded, the Gold Star Services Network. As she departs, Virginia Lazalde-McPherson will take on new duties at Paramount, becoming chief acquisitions officers for Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios.
“Anyone fortunate enough to work with Barb knows she is a true force of nature, blazing trails across the industry and leading with vision, grit and empathy,” Paramount co-CEO and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios president Chris McCarthy wrote in a memo to staff. “She built the industry’s first centralized content acquisitions group, securing landmark deals that fuel both our linear and streaming platforms. … Beyond the deals and the accolades, what truly stands out is the impact Barb has had on the people around her. In addition to being a legendary dealmaker, she is a generous mentor, a fierce advocate for others, and a dear friend. Her influence has shaped the way we think, collaborate, and lead – and her impact has resonated deeply within the company.”
The Gold Star Services Network helps Gold Star families — those who have lost a loved one in U.S. military service — by working with local organizations to promote awareness and put on events to recognize the sacrifice and legacy of service members.
Lazalde-McPherson joined Showtime in 2019 and most recently was executive vp and head of strategy and business operations. She helped navigate the integration of Showtime into Paramount+ and played a key role in getting Michael C. Hall to return for the upcoming Dexter: Resurrection.
“Virginia leads with clarity, collaboration, and a deep understanding of where the industry is headed,” McCarthy wrote in the memo. “We couldn’t be more excited to see her take on this well-deserved and broader leadership position.”
