Paramount ANZ Restructures Sales Leadership After Skydance Merger

Rod Prosser, Chief Sales Officer at Paramount ANZ, will step down from his role after 15 years with the company, with his responsibilities transitioning to Grant Madigan, newly appointed as Vice President of Sales.

Leadership Transition at Paramount ANZ

Prosser joined Paramount ANZ in 2010 and held six senior roles before being appointed Chief Sales Officer in February 2020. His departure is voluntary. Prosser said: "After 15 years at Paramount, I've made the decision that it's the right time for me to take a break and reset before the next chapter."

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Madigan will run the Australian sales team and report directly to Lee Sears, President of International Markets Advertising Sales at Paramount Global. This reporting structure bypasses a local C-suite intermediary, placing the Australian sales operation under direct global oversight.

Beverley McGarvey, President of Network 10 and Regional Lead for Australia and New Zealand, said: "Rod has been an important leader within our advertising division and has guided the sales team with clarity and focus. We thank him for his contribution over many years."

Lee Sears added: "He has set the team up for continued growth and I sincerely wish him well in the future."

Restructuring Follows Skydance Merger

Prosser's departure coincides with broader organizational changes at Paramount ANZ. The company has consolidated Adelaide-based sales and management roles into Melbourne, with redundancies implemented as part of what Prosser communicated to staff as an "ongoing focus on driving earnings growth and transforming our business."

These changes follow Paramount's 2024 merger with Skydance, a corporate event now producing operational adjustments across regional markets including Australia and New Zealand.

Madigan's new VP of Sales role carries responsibility across two distinct revenue streams: Network 10, a free-to-air broadcaster, and Paramount+, the company's streaming platform. Both sit under Paramount ANZ's advertising sales division.

McGarvey herself holds a consolidated leadership mandate, serving simultaneously as President of Network 10, Head of Streaming, and Regional Lead for Australia and New Zealand. This structure reflects a leaner post-merger operating model across the organization.

Global Oversight Tightens Across Asia-Pacific Markets

The structural shift in Madigan's reporting line reflects a broader pattern among multinational media companies operating in Asia-Pacific. Global headquarters are centralizing accountability for international markets while maintaining local execution teams. This reduces the autonomy of regional leadership roles.

For advertisers and agency partners, the change raises practical questions. Local sales representation in South Australia has been reduced following the Adelaide-to-Melbourne consolidation. Agency partners in affected markets may experience changes in the accessibility of local sales contacts.

Madigan's appointment represents an internal promotion rather than an external hire, consistent with the talent pipeline Prosser helped build over his 15-year tenure.

Prosser's Tenure Among Longest in Australian Commercial Television

Prosser's 15-year career at Paramount ANZ spanned roles including Brisbane and Sydney Sales Director, National Head of Trading and Sport Sales, General Manager of South East Queensland, Executive General Manager, and Director of Revenue and Client Partnerships before his appointment as Chief Sales Officer.

His departure, described positively by both McGarvey and Sears, marks one of the longest-serving CSO exits in Australian commercial television. No start date for Madigan's new role has been publicly announced.