Veteran movie distribution executive Chris Aronson is departing Paramount Pictures on Dec. 1. He announced the news in a note to staff early Tuesday.
Aronson, an influential member of the distribution and larger entertainment community for decades, has served as president of domestic distribution at Paramount since 2019. Prior to that, he did a long stint at 20th Century Fox before Rupert Murdoch sold off a large swath of his empire, including the Fox movie studio.
Among his many contributions through the years, Aronson started the theatrical division for Rentrak (now Comscore), synthesizing and streamlining the collection and dissemination of box office data, including real-time grosses, that the entire industry has come to rely on.
The news of Aronson’s looming departure from the Melrose lot comes as Paramount CEO David Ellison continues to overhaul the studio’s executive suite in the wake of his Paramount acquisition. Some were always expected to leave once the merger closed, including former movie studio head Brian Robbins, who was upped to co-CEO during the long interim period when the merger was awaiting approval from Washington. Other executives, however, who weren’t at the very top hoped they might maintain their positions.
But a culling of the old guard is now in full swing, which isn’t unusual. Other notable executives exiting include Paramount Motion Picture group chief Michael Ireland and Marc Weinstock, president of worldwide marketing and distribution, to whom Aronson and international distribution head Mark Viane report.
Newly installed Paramount Pictures co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein haven’t indicated what the next steps are regarding Aronson’s position. Josh Goldstine, who formerly ran movie marketing marketing at Warner Bros. Universal Pictures and Warner Bros marketing chief, is replacing Weinstock, although there’s still been no official announcement.
Aronson revealed his departure on the same day he’s set to host a summit on the Melrose lot for top theater org Cinema United (previously known as NATO). Cinema United is also the host of CinemaCon, where the charismatic Aronson was known for wowing thousands of exhibitors with his stunts when presenting his slate. And this weekend, Aronson will be on duty when monitoring the North American opening of Roofman, a crime comedy starring Channing Tatum.
Across his career, Aronson has overseen the rollout of a series of hits including, at Paramount: Top Gun: Maverick, the highest-grossing film in the studio’s history, the Sonic the Hedgehog series, which has grossed over $1.2 billion to-date, Smile, the No. 1 original horror film of 2022, and many more No. 1 hits. During his tenure at 20th Century Fox his work included Bohemian Rhapsody, Life of Pi, Avatar, and Deadpool, among others.
Prior to Fox, he served as executive vice president and general sales manager for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distribution Company. Before that, he was senior vice president for Rentrak.
Aronson is past chairman and president of the Will Rogers Motion Pictures Pioneer Foundation and a member of the Academy’s Executive Branch.
Read Aronson’s note in full below.
Team Domestic Distribution,
After six incredible years here at Paramount, I wanted to share with you that I will be stepping down from my role, effective December 1st. When I reflect and realize how far we have come as a group and as a team, I am immensely proud of what we have built and what an incredible team we have now.
We have scaled the highest heights with Top Gun: Maverick, Sonic the Hedgehog, and many others. Through it all, your professionalism, determination, dedication, and spirit of collaboration have inspired me and amazed me time and time again. Everyone knows that Domestic Distribution is the locomotive that drives the theatrical train, and this team represents the proud history of Paramount Pictures in all the best ways possible, earning the respect of exhibitors and other distributors alike.
I want to thank all of you as well as all the colleagues that I have had the pleasure of working alongside during my time here. It’s been an honor to work with such a talented group of people.
I believe more than ever in the power of the theatrical experience, and I know that if we in distribution continue to collaborate with our partners in exhibition, not being afraid to be agents of change, we can continue to propel moviegoing forward. And with true advocates of the moviegoing experience in Josh and Dana, I know you have a bright future ahead.
I will always feel a part of this family, and wherever my next chapter takes me, I will be cheering you on to success as I know you will continue to carry on the exemplary work that you do.
To paraphrase Wallace Hartley: “It has been a privilege playing with you.“
With love and gratitude,
Chris