Veteran movie distribution executive Chris Aronson is departing Paramount Pictures. He announced the news in a note to staff early Tuesday.
Aronson, an influential member of the 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 it was swallowed up by Disney.
Among his many other contributions, Aronson started the theatrical division for Rentrak (now Comscore), synthesizing and streamlining the collection and dissemination of valuable box office data.
Newly installed co-movie studio heads Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein have not indicated what the next steps are regarding Aronson’s position. Mark Viane continues to serve as president of international distribution.
The news of Aronson’s exit comes as Paramount-Skydance chief David Ellison continues to overhaul the studio’s executive suite in the wake of his Paramount acquisition. Other notable exits have included Marc Weinstock, president of worldwide marketing and distribution — to whom Aronson reported — Paramount Motion Picture group chief Michael Ireland and Chief Communications Officer Justin Dini, as well co-CEOs Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins.
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; and during his tenure at 20th Century Fox: Bohemian Rhapsody, Life of Pi, Avatar, and Deadpool, among others.
Prior to Fox, he previously served as Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distribution Company. Prior to 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 and a member of the Executives Branch Executive Committee.
Please 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