Hollywood
Paramount names Dennis Cinelli as new chief financial officer
MUMBAI: From balance sheets to big screens, Paramount has made a decisive financial move. Paramount, a Skydance Corporation company, has appointed Dennis K. Cinelli as its chief financial officer, effective January 15, 2026, marking a significant leadership shift at the media giant.
Cinelli, who steps down from Paramount’s board to take on the executive role, brings heavyweight credentials from the technology and AI worlds. He previously played a central role in taking Uber public during his tenure leading its mobility business in the US and Canada, and most recently served as CFO at Scale AI, where he helped drive rapid revenue growth and strategic fundraising, including a landmark investment by Meta that valued the company at nearly $30 billion.
As CFO, Cinelli succeeds Andrew C. Warren, who has served as EVP and interim CFO since June 2025. Warren will remain closely involved as a strategic adviser. Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison said Cinelli’s experience across direct-to-consumer, media, industrial and AI-driven businesses makes him a natural fit as the company enters its next phase of growth and transformation.
Alongside the finance reshuffle, Paramount has also strengthened its board with the appointment of Andrew Campion as an independent director from January 13, 2026. Campion brings deep operational and strategic expertise from senior leadership roles at Nike and The Walt Disney Company, as well as board experience at Starbucks.
With a new finance chief and a seasoned board addition, Paramount appears keen to ensure that its next act is as tightly scripted financially as it is creatively.
Hollywood
Disney sells out ad slots for 98th Oscars broadcast
Strong demand for live events turns the Academy Awards into a global, multi-platform marketing moment
NEW YORK: Hollywood’s biggest night has also become one of advertising’s hottest tickets. Disney has sold out all advertising inventory for the 98th Oscars, underscoring the growing demand from brands eager to ride the cultural wave of major live events.
The sell-out marks the sixth consecutive live tentpole success for Disney Advertising. The streak includes last year’s 97th Oscars, the 59th Annual CMA Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, signalling strong appetite among marketers for moments that bring audiences together in real time.
For advertisers, the Oscars are no longer just a single night of glitz and gold statues. Disney’s “Content Everywhere” strategy has expanded the awards show into a sprawling, multi-platform brand playground spanning linear television, streaming, social media and digital content.
“Live continues to be one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with engaged audiences at scale, and the Oscars represent the very best of culture, creativity and community,” said Disney Advertising SVP, entertainment and streaming solutions John Campbell. He added that the company has reshaped the show’s commercial potential into a connected experience that stretches well beyond the broadcast.
Brands such as Mazda, Pfizer and Volkswagen of America are tapping into Disney’s wider ecosystem, appearing across original content segments including Know Your Movies on Hulu and Critically Acclaimed on Disney+. Partnerships also extend to social media through TikTok Pulse Premiere and to custom brand storytelling created by Disney CreativeWorks.
The result is what Disney calls the “Oscars Everywhere” approach. Rather than a few high-profile ad breaks, advertisers now find themselves woven through a series of moments before, during and after the ceremony.
These include On The Red Carpet at The Oscars, a live pre-show syndicated across major local markets and streamed nationwide, and the After the Oscars Show, which keeps the conversation going once the final award has been handed out.
This year’s sponsors include Rolex, returning for its ninth year, and Burger King, which joins the Oscars advertiser roster for the first time. Other brands in the mix include Disney Cruise Line, Dunkin’, Eli Lilly and Company, Eucerin, Intuit TurboTax, L’Oréal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Miebo, Paris Baguette, Peacock, Starbucks, State Farm, Toyota and Verizon.
The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
