Paramount veteran Keith Cox to exit

Long-standing Paramount scripted exec Keith Cox is leaving the US studio after two decades.

Cox is currently president of MTV Entertainment and was a key player in landing the services of Taylor Sheridan, paving the way for shows such as Yellowstone, Tulsa King and Landman.

He joined what was Viacom in 2006 having been vice president of comedy at Warner Bros., before taking on roles including head of development and production at Paramount Network and TV Land.

He then helped to shepherd Yellowstone, working with Chris McCarthy at Paramount, who exited the company in the wake of Paramount’s takeover by David Ellison’s Skydance.

Sheridan is also set to depart the US studio, having revealed a deal with NBCUniversal last year that will see him gradually exit Paramount.

McCarthy is also at NBCU, with US reports suggesting Cox could rejoin his former chief at the Comcast-owned studio.

Cox’s exit will see Paramount TV Studios vice presidents Antonia Covault and Todd Baynes shifting to current series, under executive vice president Carolyn Harris.

Paramount TV Studios (PTVS) president Matt Thunell described Cox as “a respected leader and an incredible partner to both [PTVS chair] Dana [Goldberg] and me from our first days at Paramount”.

He thanked Cox for his “leadership, collaboration and the impact he has had on our teams, creative partners and franchises.”

Cox added: “I’m incredibly confident that with Dana and Matt at the studio and Cindy [Holland], Jane [Wiseman], and Chris [Parnell] at Paramount+, these shows and franchises will continue to thrive.”