EXCLUSIVE UPDATED: Longtime scripted executive Lauren Ruggiero, SVP Scripted Series at MTV Entertainment Studios, and Comedy Central veteran Ryan Moran, VP Talent & Original Series Development, are departing as part of the Tuesday round of companywide layoffs impacting 3.5% of parent Paramount Global’s workforce, Deadline has learned.
Ruggiero has been at Paramount for a decade. She started at Paramount Network where she was promoted to VP and subsequently SVP, Scripted Original Series, before migrating to MTV Entertainment Studios, the studio behind Paramount Network’s mega hit Yellowstone, on which Ruggiero served as executive in charge of production during its early seasons.
During her tenure, Ruggiero has been a top lieutenant of Keith Cox, now President of scripted for MTV Entertainment Studios and Showtime. The departure of a high-level programming executive like Ruggiero comes amid speculation about the future of MTV Entertainment Studios as a standalone entity should Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount get regulatory approval.
A popular executive among the creative community, Ruggiero led scripted development and oversaw scripted programming from development through production at Paramount Network and then MTVE Studios. In addition to Yellowstone, she worked on other MTVE Studios series from Taylor Sheridan, including 1883 and Tulsa King.
Moran has been at Comedy Central for more than 14 years and has recently served as the main buyer for the network, which has little original programming on the schedule left beyond The Daily Show and South Park.
During his tenure, Moran has served as an executive producer for Comedy Central on a number of specials and series, including Jeff Dunham: Me the People and Cemedy Central Stand-Up featuring.
Ruggiero and Moran are among dozens of executives leaving Paramount this week as part of the latest layoffs that also impacted five members of CBS Studios’ casting department, including Deborah Aquila, EVP and head of casting for streaming series.
“As we navigate the continued industry-wide linear declines and dynamic macro-economic environment, while prioritizing investments in our growing streaming business, we are taking the hard, but necessary steps to further streamline our organization starting this week,” Paramount co-CEOs George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins wrote in a staff memo this morning about the staff cuts.
