Paramount Ad Sales Chief Jo Ann Ross Shifts to Advisory Role

Following 30 years at the company, Jo Ann Ross is stepping back from Paramount's ad sales chief role. Ross has now been named chairman of Paramount Advertising, and John Halley, former evp and chief operating officer of advertising, will succeed Ross as president, leading national sales across the company’s portfolio of broadcast, cable, digital and streaming. “Jo Ann is a true trailblazer in our industry and a dominant force behind the success of CBS, ViacomCBS and now Paramount Global,” Paramount president and CEO Bob Bakish said in a statement. “As the world of entertainment has evolved, Jo Ann has been on the forefront of advertising innovations that have been instrumental to establishing Paramount as a trusted partner and must-buy for advertisers everywhere. Her talent and passion for this business is only matched by her exceptional ability to lead through change, building talented teams and enduring client relationships throughout her illustrious career. She has made an indelible mark on Paramount during her record tenure, and we are grateful for her continued contributions.” To ensure a smooth transition, Ross will continue providing advice and expertise from her advisory position. Jo Ann Ross on Trying to Deliver Paramount’s First In-Person Upfront in 60 Minutes On Halley taking over the role, Bakish said, "John is a proven leader and visionary who has driven innovations in Paramount’s advertising business that have set the pace for the entire industry for years. His deep understanding of both the linear and digital businesses, and the underlying forces driving their change, has guided key advancements in our advertising products and empowered us to deliver better outcomes for our clients. Given the rapid pace of evolution in advertising, John is ideally suited to lead Paramount’s sales organization forward.” Ross joined CBS in 1992 as vp of Olympic sales, later becoming the first woman to serve as sales chief of a broadcast network and the longest-tenured sales head in broadcast television. In her years with the company, Ross has shepherded sales through numerous transitions, even staying on in 2019 to lead ad sales when CBS combined with Viacom. At the time, Ross told Adweek she "wasn't ready to hang it up" and wouldn't be simply staying on for the 2020 Super Bowl. “In for a penny, in for a pound,” she said. “I’m really excited. I love what I do. I get juiced by it. I love meeting new people, and I love being with clients. So what’s a better stage than ViacomCBS to do all of that, and hopefully more?” In 2022, following two years of virtual upfront presentations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ross also led the company's first in-person presentation under its new name, Paramount. "I will say very humbly that I think we all nailed it. And I think that there were a couple of jokes leading up, but we set the flag on the mountain. And [the Paramount name] rolls off everybody’s tongue very naturally now," Ross told Adweek following the event. Halley joined Viacom in 2007 and has led commercial and business operations in various roles for Viacom, ViacomCBS and now Paramount's advertising. He's been working with Ross since 2019, serving as COO of ad revenue and reporting to Ross after the former ad sales chief stayed with the combined company. The new ad sales chief has also been integral in Paramount's advertising innovations and developments, including Vantage, the company's audience targeting platform, and EyeQ, Paramount’s connected TV ad product. In a memo to staff, Ross noted that it was "time for change" and gave Halley a vote of confidence, saying the new ad sales president is "ready to take this team to new heights."

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Paramount Ad Sales Chief Jo Ann Ross Shifts to Advisory Role, John Halley Tapped to Succeed Her

She'll stay on as chairman after 30 years on the job

Bill Bradley

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