Maria Kyriacou, President of Broadcast & Studios, International Markets at Paramount Global, is bidding farewell to the U.S. media giant after a successful four-year tenure, coinciding with the company’s decision to streamline its international originals portfolio.

In a recent communication to staff, Paramount international head Pam Kaufman and CBS CEO George Cheeks announced Kyriacou’s departure, emphasizing a strategic shift towards prioritizing Hollywood franchises, films, and series with broad global appeal, in line with CEO Bob Bakish’s outlined strategy.

Kyriacou’s responsibilities will not be outsourced externally. Instead, CBS Studios President David Stapf will assume oversight of Paramount Television International Studios (PTIS), while local leaders will continue to manage international free-to-air networks.

Although Kyriacou’s final day is today, she will remain engaged with the team until March. Joining from ITV Studios in 2020, Kyriacou has played a pivotal role in overseeing Paramount’s operations in key territories such as the UK, Australia, Canada, and Israel. Notably, she has spearheaded PTIS alongside managing Channel 5, Network 10, Chilevisión, and Telefe outside the U.S. With a wealth of experience spanning a decade at ITV Studios and previous roles as Senior Vice President at Disney for 15 years, Kyriacou leaves behind a legacy of driving commercial success and delivering authentic local stories to global platforms.

Kaufman and Cheeks commended Kyriacou for her steadfast dedication to advancing the company’s objectives and highlighted notable successes achieved under her leadership, including local PTIS productions such as “Uno Para Morir (Death’s Roulette),” “No Escape,” “The Burning Girls,” and “Anderson Spider.”

As Paramount adopts the ‘One Paramount’ strategy outlined by Bakish, the company is gearing towards optimizing content, bolstering streaming profitability, and leveraging the synergies across its various lines of business. While this strategic shift will lead to workforce adjustments globally, Paramount remains committed to delivering high-quality content across its platforms.

Despite Kyriacou’s departure, Paramount’s international workforce remains intact for the time being, with the company continuing its focus on high-end scripted productions following the closure of its UK unscripted division last year. As Paramount navigates these changes, it remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering compelling content to audiences worldwide.