In a memo to Viacom employees, Mr. Bakish called Mr. Gianopulos “a hugely talented executive, with a strategic vision, strong business expertise<br />and deep industry and creative relationships that are second to none.”<br />He added that Mr. Gianopulos would have “a running start” because of Paramount teams “who are right now exploring new ways to strengthen the studio<br />and position it for success.” A spokeswoman declined to make Mr. Bakish or Mr. Gianopulos available for interviews.<br />The studio, which lost $445 million in its last fiscal year, found modest Oscar-season hits in “Fences” and “Arrival.”<br />But it has mostly become a bomb factory, releasing unpopular films like “Silence,” “Allied,” “Ben-Hur,” “Zoolander 2,” “Monster Trucks” and “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.”<br />Paramount’s previous chairman, Brad Grey, was ousted in February.<br />Mr. Gianopulos, who turns 65 in April, will take over as chairman of Paramount on April 3, Viacom said on Monday.<br />And several coming movies could be hits, including “Ghost in the Shell,” a science-fiction action drama set for release on Friday;<br />and “Baywatch,” a raunchy adaptation of the lifeguard television series.<br />In some ways, Mr. Gianopulos may take comfort in Paramount’s long-term history: The studio has battled its way back from the brink before.<br />New Chairman at Paramount Pictures Faces an Arduous Task -<br />By BROOKS BARNESMARCH 27, 2017<br />LOS ANGELES — Viacom has turned to one of Hollywood’s most seasoned<br />and respected executives, James N. Gianopulos, to revive its faded Paramount Pictures operation.
