Skydance co-CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreitz are overhauling the company’s corporate culture and cost structure, mandating a full five-day return to the office while launching a voluntary buyout programme for employees. The directives, detailed in an internal staff memo obtained by Deadline, mark the first major operational shake-up since Skydance finalised its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery weeks ago.Under the new policy, employees will be required to work on-site five days a week, phased in over time depending on location. The mandate aligns the broader workforce with Paramount-Skydance, which had already ended hybrid arrangements, while ending the three-day in-office model previously held at Warner Bros. Discovery. The transition will primarily affect major hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and London.“We truly believe this is in the best interest of our company and our people,” Ellison and Kreitz wrote in the memo. “We’ve seen the benefits firsthand at Paramount, and we want every part of Skydance to share in them.”Alongside the in-office mandate, leadership introduced a Voluntary Buyout (VBO) Program aimed at reducing headcount as the company tackles a daunting balance sheet. The merged entity is saddled with nearly $90 billion in debt amid a climate of rising interest rates. Ellison has pledged to deliver at least $2 billion in cost savings, with significant reductions expected to come from layoffs.“As we bring our teams together, we recognize that not everyone will see their future here, and we respect that,” the memo stated. “To give eligible employees the option to move on in a way that works for them, we are introducing a Voluntary Buyout (VBO) Program. Those who qualify will receive an individual communication with their personalized details and terms, and a window to decide whether to accept this one-time offer.”Eligible employees are expected to receive their buyout packages in the coming days as Skydance accelerates its post-merger integration. Here’s the full memo as it appeared in Deadline:Team,At Skydance, our goal is to build the next-generation media and entertainment company, powered by creativity and technology. We are creative-first, audience focused, tech-forward and globally scaled. And in a world of endless choice and fierce competition for attention, we don’t just want to succeed. We want to win.To do that, we must be a strong, connected and agile company. Among our business and creative priorities, none matters more than building a strong culture, because it’s the foundation of everything we want to achieve. Winning requires us to work as one team: one company, fully aligned. That means communicating openly and collaborating efficiently across every part of the organization.
In-Person Collaboration
We believe in-person collaboration is vital to our culture and to the success of our business. Especially in a creative company like ours, the best ideas come from people in the same room, sharing perspectives, challenging one another and solving problems. Being together isn’t just about showing up. It’s about inspiring one another, learning and coaching, forming friendships and having the casual conversations that spark something great.With that in mind, we will adopt a five-day in-office policy across all of Skydance. We truly believe this is in the best interest of our company and our people. We’ve seen the benefits firsthand at Paramount, and we want every part of Skydance to share in them.While many of you are already in the office five days a week, we understand this may be a significant change to the daily routines of others. To give you time to plan and adjust, we will take a phased approach by location. You will receive ample notice before changes take effect, and we will work closely with managers to support you through the transition.
Voluntary Buyout Program
As we bring our teams together, we recognize that not everyone will see their future here, and we respect that. To give eligible employees the option to move on in a way that works for them, we are introducing a Voluntary Buyout (VBO) Program. Those who qualify will receive an individual communication with their personalized details and terms, and a window to decide whether to accept this one-time offer.We recognize this is a significant decision, and we want you to feel informed and supported. If this applies to you, please review your materials carefully and reach out to your leadership or HR representative with any questions. FAQs and other resources are available on the Skydance Integration or Ask Employee Connection on WBD One.Please know we don’t take any of this lightly. We are clear about what we’re building: a company that tells the stories people around the world love, embraces new ways to connect with audiences, and leads the next era of media and entertainment. We have the talent, the creative firepower and the ambition to do it, and we will get there together.Thank you for your commitment, and for the creativity and passion you bring to your work every day.Best,David and Ynon
