Jane Wiseman is leaving Paramount+ after 14 months as executive vice president and head of originals, as the streaming service’s programming operation moves under a newly combined direct-to-consumer leadership structure.

Her exit comes nearly a month after Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery officially closed on Oct. 6. It also follows the departure of Wiseman’s former boss, Paramount Chair of Direct-To-Consumer Cindy Holland, who left on the eve of the transaction.

Deadline reports that Wiseman’s team will now report to Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s head of originals. Wiseman has offered to assist with the transition.

Following the merger’s close, HBO and HBO Max content chief Casey Bloys became co-chair and chief content officer, DTC, at the combined Skydance company. His responsibilities now include oversight of the programming teams at Paramount+ and HBO Max, as well as HBO.

Bloys brought his established HBO and HBO Max leadership group into the wider organization: HBO head of drama Francesca Orsi, HBO and HBO Max head of comedy Amy Gravitt, and Aubrey. The presence of those three senior executives left no equivalent position for Wiseman within the new structure, according to the report.

Bloys spent several weeks reviewing the Paramount+ content business and considering different arrangements. One option would have allowed Wiseman to retain oversight of all or part of her portfolio, including the Taylor Sheridan and 101 Studios slate, potentially while reporting to Aubrey. That scenario was considered but could have altered the existing balance among Orsi, Aubrey and Gravitt.

A substantial Paramount+ slate

Wiseman’s 14-month run produced a significant volume of programming activity. She oversaw 28 new series pickups spanning scripted, unscripted, kids and family projects, along with 16 renewals. She also managed the content side of BET+’s integration into Paramount+.

The first two new scripted series ordered during her tenure are already in production. Discretion stars Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, while The Best Of Us is headlined by Jeremy Strong.

Other titles within Wiseman’s Paramount+ slate included Landman, MobLand, The Madison, Dexter and Dutton Ranch. Upcoming projects included Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone; Ascent, starring Viola Davis; and Fear Not, starring Anne Hathaway.

Bloys acknowledged Wiseman’s contribution in an internal memo announcing his DTC content leadership team.

“Jane, in her partnership with Cindy Holland, has done amazing work at Paramount+,” he wrote. “The development slate is incredibly impressive, and Jane has graciously offered to help with the transition. She is an extraordinarily talented executive. I appreciate all her support and wish her all the best.”

Wiseman’s development background

Before joining Paramount+, Wiseman worked under Holland as head of U.S. television at Sister. There, she oversaw the company’s television division, concentrating on premium scripted series.

She previously served as vice president and head of comedy at Netflix, again working with Holland. Her projects there included Ozark, Narcos, Dead to Me, Russian Doll, Master of None, Never Have I Ever, Big Mouth, BoJack Horseman, The Kominsky Method and Grace and Frankie.

Earlier in her career, Wiseman was a senior vice president at Chernin Entertainment and worked on New Girl. She also spent six years as NBC’s senior vice president of comedy, where she developed Parks and Rec and Community. She began her career at Fox, contributing to the development of Arrested Development and The Simple Life.

ShowBiz Take

Wiseman’s departure is a clear sign of how Paramount+ is being folded into the combined company’s broader streaming organization. Bloys now has oversight across HBO, HBO Max and Paramount+, with longtime HBO and HBO Max executives holding the principal programming roles beneath him.

The change is particularly notable because Wiseman leaves behind both a sizable development record and several prominent series still moving forward. Her 28 pickups, 16 renewals and ongoing productions show that this is not simply the elimination of an inactive position; it is a transfer of responsibility for an extensive slate during a major corporate integration.

What Happens Next?

Wiseman will help with the leadership transition, while her former operation is expected to move under Aubrey. The immediate programming focus includes the Paramount+ projects already in production and the wider slate that Wiseman assembled during her tenure.