• Skydance, formed by the merger of WBD and Paramount, told employees to return to the office five days a week or take a buyout.
• Many Paramount employees had been working fully in person, while WBD staffers were generally at three days a week.
• Read the memo from Skydance's HR team detailing the standard buyout offer.

David Ellison's Skydance just shared its buyout offer for employees who don't want to return to an office five days a week.

Staffers across the company, which was formed by the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, were told on Monday that they'd soon have to work fully in person. The company didn't say if there were any exceptions to its new RTO mandate.

Eligible employees who aren't willing to work in person can opt to take a standard buyout package of two weeks of severance for every year they've been at Paramount or WBD, two people familiar with the offer told Business Insider.

Most eligible employees will receive that offer, a person familiar with Skydance's proposal said, though there could be exceptions on the timing or the amount received.

Staffers who've been offered severance must decide whether they're leaving the company by 11 p.m. ET on November 8, an HR email viewed by Business Insider said.

Paramount staffers assigned to an office had been required to work from an office five days a week since earlier this year, while WBD workers had been working in an office at least three days a week.

"We recognize that as we bring our teams together, not everyone will see their future here," Skydance's HR team said in an email to staffers.

Skydance's HR email said this buyout "is a one-time offer" and told employees that there are "no additional" offers planned.

Read the full email Skydance's HR team sent below:

As David and Ynon shared earlier today, we recognize that as we bring our teams together, not everyone will see their future here. For some, it may be the in-office policy or the pace of change. For others, it may instead reflect personal or professional goals. To give employees the option to decide what is best for them, we are offering a one-time Voluntary Buyout (VBO) Program to eligible employees.

A VBO gives an eligible employee the opportunity to volunteer to leave the organization in return for a separation package. You are receiving this email because you meet the eligibility criteria and may choose whether to participate in this program. We recognize this is an important personal decision. Please carefully consider the opportunity and notify us of your decision to accept or decline no later than 8:00 p.m. PT on November 8, 2026.

Before you decide, please keep the following in mind:

• Participation is entirely voluntary.
• This is a one-time offer; no additional BO programs are planned.
• If you do not respond by the deadline, you will be considered to have declined the offer.
• Once submitted, your decision may only be changed during your opt-in window.
• You may wish to consult a personal financial, tax, or legal adviser before making your decision.

Please click here to indicate your decision and to review additional information, including an estimate of your severance and benefits.

We value your contributions and we want you to feel supported and informed as you consider your decision. For FAQs related to the VBO and our return-to-office policy, please visit the Skydance Integration Hub. For additional questions about the program or your individual offer, please visit My Paramount.

• Skydance announced new leadership for its ad business weeks after the Paramount-WBD merger.
• In a memo to staff, Jay Askinasi, chief revenue officer for advertising, named the leadership team.
• The announcement was the latest leadership shake-up following the merger earlier this month.

Skydance has announced new leadership for its combined advertising business following the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, according to a memo viewed by Business Insider.

Jay Askinasi, Skydance's chief revenue officer for advertising, outlined the new leadership structure for the "unified Skydance Advertising organization." Following the completion of the $110 billion merger this month, Skydance's portfolio includes Paramount and Paramount+, Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max, CBS, CNN, and more.

Askinasi said going forward that the leadership team would include:

• Danielle Carney, head of US sales
• Jill Steinhauser, head of ad partnerships
• Christine Hong, head of revenue operations
• Chris Brady, head of Skydance Media Labs
• Ed Romaine, head of ad marketing
• Evan Giamanco, head of product strategy and measurement

Askinasi said Steve Ellis would continue as chief operating officer for advertising, a position he has held at Paramount since 2022, and integration lead. He also said Lee Sears would continue to lead Paramount's international advertising business as part of its leadership team while execs "evaluate the WBD international business and determine the right structure for the new Skydance group."

Askinasi also thanked Ryan Gould, president of ad sales and go-to-market at Warner Bros. Discovery, and Bobby Voltaggio, president of ad sales and platform monetization at Warner Bros. Discovery, and said they would "continue to partner" with him "throughout the fourth quarter."

"This team reflects how we intend to work: with clear ownership, fewer layers, and leaders who are close to the work," Askinasi told staffers in the memo. "We will organize around how clients plan and buy, elevate our strongest IP and creative capabilities, and use shared data and intelligence to make faster, better decisions."

A representative for Skydance did not respond to a request for comment.

Several other leadership moves have been announced since the merger's completion. Another leaked memo on Thursday revealed changes to Skydance's product and tech team, which included the departure of four Warner Bros. Discovery executives.