Another Paramount Exec to Leave Amid Shake-Up

Rob Friedman is stepping down as vice chairman and chief operating officer of the Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group as Chairman Brad Grey continues restructuring the studio.

Friedman, who joined Paramount in 1997 after 25 years at Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Bros., becomes the latest casualty from the studio’s former regime.

His departure has been expected for some time, after the exits of Paramount’s longtime chairwoman, Sherry Lansing, and her boss, Viacom Entertainment Group Chairman Jonathan Dolgen.

Since leaving the talent management business to take over the Viacom Inc.-owned studio in March, Grey has been building his own executive lineup and revamping Paramount’s operations. That same month, he replaced Paramount President Donald De Line with television veteran Gail Berman.

Friedman, whose contract expires at the end of the year, said Grey made it clear when he came to the studio that “he wanted to build his own team.”

Friedman said he met with Grey at the beginning of summer and agreed to stay on through the upcoming openings of “Hustle & Flow” and “Bad News Bears,” which both premiere July 22.

Asked about his future plans, Friedman said, “I plan to start looking for new opportunities tomorrow.”

Grey is expected to change Friedman’s former job to give it less-sweeping duties.

Although Paramount’s production unit did not report to Friedman, virtually all other major operating divisions did, including domestic and international marketing and distribution, Paramount Home Entertainment and the Paramount Classics specialty unit.

Grey is expected to bring in an executive to oversee marketing and distribution, but it remains unclear to whom the home entertainment and classics units will report.

Paramount officials declined to comment on the restructuring plans.