Ex-Showtime chief David Nevins named CEO of Peter Chernin’s studio North Road

Former Showtime Entertainment chief and Paramount Global exec David Nevins has been named CEO of Peter Chernin’s fast-expanding international studio The North Road Company.

David Nevins

Nevins was most recently chairman and CEO of Paramount Premium Group and chief creative officer of scripted series at streamer Paramount+ until his exit towards the end of last year.

He will be charged with overseeing North Road’s growing portfolio of assets and projects, working with the executive team including Jenno Topping, Jan Frouman, Chris Coelen, Connor Schell and Darian Singer.

Chernin, who was previously North Road’s CEO and chairman, is now the company’s executive chairman.

LA-headquartered North Road was officially launched exactly one year ago, when The Chernin Group (TCG)’s US$200m acquisition of Red Arrow Studios’ US assets, including prodcos Kinetic Content, 44 Blue Productions, Left/Right, Dorsey Pictures and Half Yard, was first revealed.

The company’s assets include TCG’s scripted film and TV business, Chernin Entertainment, which is led by Topping; Red Arrow Studios’ US business; non-scripted studio Words + Pictures, launched by Connor Schell, Chernin and Jesse Jacobs in 2021; and the London-based international division led by Frouman and Kristin Jones.

At the time of its launch, North Road was backed by US$500m of equity financing from specialist private equity investment firm Providence Equity Partners, in addition to US$300m of debt financing from Apollo Advisors. In January, the company received a further US$150m in investment from the Qatar Investment Authority.

Over the past two months, it has revealed a minority investment in former NFL star Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and the acquisition of Turkish production company Karga Seven Pictures. It is also eyeing several other deals.

Nevins’ appointment is a significant feather in the cap for North Road as it continues to expand its US and international business.

Before his departure from Paramount Global, he was responsible for all aspects of Showtime Networks, in addition to scripted dramas and comedies for Paramount+, as well as overseeing Paramount TV Studios.

Prior to that he was the chairman and CEO of Showtime Networks, having been its president of entertainment. During his tenure, the network produced and launched hits including Homeland, Billions, Yellowjackets, Dexter: New Blood, Your Honor, The Chi, Twin Peaks, Ray Donovan, Shameless, The Affair, Sacha Baron Cohen’s Who is America and The Circus. He was also formerly the president of Imagine Television.

Earlier in the year, Nevins, backed by private equity firm General Atlantic, reportedly offered US$3bn to buy Showtime from Paramount Global. The offer, which was one among several, was ultimately rejected.

North Road said it has more than 85 active productions in the works, including the upcoming Apple TV+ historical drama Chief of War, co-created by and starring Jason Momoa; limited series The Madness for Netflix; and basketball film Rez Ball, also for Netflix.

“David’s arrival comes as we enter the next phase of North Road’s trajectory, following a strong first year of foundational growth via acquisitions, investments, and content wins with quality as our foremost goal,” said Chernin.

“He joins a management team with unparalleled creative and business credentials, and David is the perfect creative leader to now bring it all together and execute on our vision for North Road.”

Nevins added: “It is truly an honour to join forces with Peter to build North Road. With its incredibly strong team of creatives and its powerful financial partners, North Road is poised to become the leading independent provider of premium entertainment in the world. They are doing it with the highest quality across all genres, from film to TV and scripted to unscripted. I was attracted to that big, global ambition.”