Paramount boss steps down in wake of lawsuit

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The president of Paramount Skydance, Jeff Shell, has agreed to leave the company. The decision follows allegations that Shell disclosed sensitive information to RJ Cipriani, a Las Vegas gambler and self-described informant, who says he did crisis communications work for Shell in exchange for help launching a TV project. Cipriani is now suing Shell for $150m, claiming non-payment. He also alleges that Shell shared insider information about Paramount’s recent $110bn acquisition of Warner Bros, which saw it beat off competition from Netflix. David Ellison, the owner of the company, has a history of controversial hires. This includes the director Brett Ratner, who has faced accusations of sexual misconduct, which he has vehemently denied. Shell only joined Paramount in August, two years after he left NBCUniversal by mutual agreement in the wake of an internal sexual harassment claim against him. Shell acknowledged at the time that he had engaged in an “inappropriate relationship”.