Sarah Rose to exit Paramount

President of 5 and Paramount UK regional lead Sarah Rose is stepping away from the company after five years. 

Rose has been appointed chief executive of Prince and Princess of Wales-led philanthropic organisation The Royal Foundation, but will stay in her role at Paramount until the end of the year, while the US giant searches her successor.

She leaves following a successful streak at the broadcaster, with successive years of operating profit for 5, which also won Channel of the Year at Edinburgh TV Festival last month.

Ben Frow will continue to lead 5 creative as its chief content officer.

Rose has been in her current role since February 2024, having previously served as chief operating and commercial officer, first for the UK, then for Broadcast, UK and International Studios. She joined then Paramount/Viacom in August 2020.

The Royal Foundation is the organisation responsible for driving the social and environmental work of The Prince and Princess of Wales, currently focused on homelessness, early years learning, wildlife conservation and community initiativies.

In a note to staff, Rose said she was “very sorry to be leaving both Paramount and particularly 5”, and that “I am only doing so because this is a career-defining, unique role which I simply could not turn down.”

Rose continued: “The decision to leave now has been all the more difficult because I am both impressed and excited by the vision and strategy Skydance has articulated since acquiring Paramount.

“The international division is in very safe hands with Kevin MacLellan, who understands our business intimately and has an impressive track record of his own. Hot on the heels of 5’s Channel of the Year accolade, the business is well-equipped to thrive.”

“I have worked in public service broadcasting for thirty years and have never felt as at home or as passionate about a place as much as I have about this business I’ve had the privilege of running. There are so many brilliant people in this building, and I am going to continue enjoying working with them until my very last moment in Paramount.”

MacLellan, who was recently appointed as Paramount’s president of international and global content distribution will oversee the search for Rose’s successor.