TLDRs;
- Paramount hires Dane Glasgow from Meta to lead AI and product innovation initiatives.
- Streaming growth drives media companies to recruit technology-focused executives.
- Glasgow will oversee ad strategies, immersive storytelling, and platform expansion.
- Media firms increasingly prioritize tech leaders to stay competitive in digital markets.
Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, has appointed Dane Glasgow as its new chief product officer, marking a strategic push to strengthen AI, ad innovation, and digital experiences.
Glasgow, who brings leadership experience from Meta, Google, eBay, and Microsoft, will report directly to Paramount CEO David Ellison.
In his new role, Glasgow will shape the company’s product vision across digital platforms, immersive storytelling, advertising, and AI-powered capabilities. He will also collaborate with Cindy Holland, Paramount’s chief of direct-to-consumer operations, ensuring seamless alignment across products, audience engagement, and platform growth strategies.
Industry analysts see this appointment as part of a broader trend: media companies increasingly recruit technology leaders to guide digital transformation, bridging the gap between traditional entertainment and streaming-first business models.
Streaming Surge Accelerates Digital Transformation
Glasgow’s appointment comes amid a surge in streaming consumption, with digital video projected to surpass traditional TV viewing by 2025. Analysts estimate audiences will spend around four hours per day on digital platforms, compared to just under three hours for traditional television.
Media companies with engaged tech leadership typically allocate around 20% of technology budgets to innovation, compared to 15% for baseline organizations, suggesting Glasgow could significantly boost Paramount’s investment in AI-driven personalization, interactive advertising, and immersive content experiences.
This move aligns with Deloitte’s characterization of “kinetic leaders”, executives who actively drive organizational transformation rather than merely managing operations. Glasgow’s extensive experience at Meta, Google, and Microsoft positions him as a prime candidate to accelerate Paramount’s shift toward a more innovative and digital-first content strategy.
Ad-Supported Streaming Requires Expertise
The entertainment industry is increasingly embracing ad-supported streaming models. Platforms like Disney+ and Hulu report rising adoption rates for their ad-supported tiers, emphasizing the need for sophisticated product development that balances user experience with monetization.
Glasgow’s mandate will include integrating AI-driven advertising capabilities, enabling more targeted campaigns, and enhancing audience engagement across Paramount’s streaming services.
His previous leadership at Meta in AI and product innovation makes him uniquely suited to spearhead these initiatives, supporting the company’s strategic objective of capturing market share while maximizing revenue potential.
Talent Wars Shape Media Strategy
Paramount’s recruitment of Glasgow mirrors a broader industry trend where competition for AI and tech talent is reshaping the media landscape.
Meta’s recent hiring of Apple AI executive Frank Chu demonstrates the high stakes associated with securing top-tier technology leaders. These “talent wars” highlight how AI expertise has become a critical strategic asset in the entertainment and technology sectors.
The global entertainment market is projected to grow from $101.33 billion in 2024 to over $201 billion by 2033. This growth, fueled by streaming adoption and technological innovation, makes executive hires like Glasgow’s central to maintaining competitiveness, driving digital transformation, and optimizing monetization strategies.
