Paramount Skydance Appoints Rene Augustine as Senior VP of Global Public Policy

Paramount Skydance has appointed Rene Augustine as its new senior vice president of global public policy, effective February 17. Augustine, a former attorney in President Donald Trump's administration, will report to Makan Delrahim, Paramount's chief legal officer. This appointment comes as Paramount pursues a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has accepted a competing $72 billion offer from Netflix. Augustine's role will involve developing strategic policies and building diplomatic relationships to advance Paramount's business objectives globally.

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Rene Augustine brings extensive experience from her tenure in the U.S. government and the private sector. From 2019 to 2021, she served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where she oversaw international antitrust policy and represented the U.S. in international forums. Augustine has also held senior roles in the Trump White House, including special assistant to the president and senior associate counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office. Her career includes legislative experience as senior counsel to the chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and positions in the George W. Bush administration.

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Augustine's academic credentials include a law degree from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Duke University. She has also completed executive education programs at MIT Sloan School of Management focused on blockchain technologies and machine learning in business.

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Makan Delrahim expressed confidence in Augustine's capabilities, stating, “Rene is a highly respected attorney who has excelled in all three branches of government and the private sector. She has worked in a bipartisan manner with the highest security clearances in the government.” He emphasized her unique qualifications to represent Paramount across various policy, regulatory, and diplomatic matters.

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While the appointment of Augustine has been met with support from within Paramount, there may be concerns regarding her ties to the Trump administration, particularly as the company navigates complex regulatory landscapes in its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery. Critics may argue that her previous affiliations could influence public perception and regulatory interactions.

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As Paramount continues its aggressive bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, shareholders are expected to vote on the Netflix deal by April. The outcome of this corporate maneuvering will significantly impact the media landscape, particularly as Paramount seeks to bolster its competitive position against streaming giants.

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• “I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with Rene at the Department of Justice, at the Senate and at the White House and know she is uniquely qualified and experienced to represent Paramount across a variety of policy, regulatory and diplomatic matters.” — Makan Delrahim, Chief Legal Officer, Paramount Skydance

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• “Rene is a highly respected attorney who has excelled in all three branches of government and the private sector.” — Makan Delrahim, Chief Legal Officer, Paramount Skydance

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