Former CEO of Paramount International Raffaele Annecchino dies at 55

Raffaele Annecchino, former president and CEO of Paramount International and one of the key figures in the global expansion of Paramount and ViacomCBS, has died suddenly at the age of 55.

Raffaele Annecchino

The Italian executive spent more than 25 years at Paramount/ViacomCBS, a company he joined in Madrid as a commercial manager and where he ended up leading its international operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

During his tenure heading the international business, Annecchino played a central role in the company’s move into streaming and the global expansion of Paramount+. He also spearheaded the international growth of Pluto TV and was involved in the creation and launch of SkyShowtime, a platform born from an alliance between Paramount and Comcast.

His responsibilities included brands and businesses such as MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, Channel 5, Network 10, Telefe and Chilevisión, as well as the development of new production hubs and the acquisition of studios in various markets.

Before assuming leadership positions at Paramount, he worked at Turner International, Cartoon Network, and CNN, and collaborated with strategic partners such as Sky, Canal+, MultiChoice, Viaplay, RTL and Mediapro.

Recognised within the industry for his negotiation skills and approachable manner, Annecchino built a broad network of relationships with executives, companies and international partners throughout his career.

After leaving Paramount, he founded Blue Ocean Media Partners, a media consultancy based in Madrid and Dubai. More recently, he joined Mediapro Middle East as a consultant and advisor, supporting the group in developing new business, content and expansion opportunities in the Middle East, with a particular focus on sports, esports and premium content distribution.

He also served on the boards of directors at Viacom18 India, SBS Media in South Korea and SkyShowtime.