Former Paramount International CEO Raffaele Annecchino dies at 55

Raffaele Annecchino, the Italian-born former president and CEO of Paramount International, died suddenly over the weekend while on vacation in the Balearic Islands from meningitis, his press office announced. He was 55.

Over more than 25 years at Paramount and Viacom/CBS starting in the late 1990s, Annecchino rose from an early commercial role in Madrid to oversee the company’s operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

As head of Paramount International, Annecchino helped the company transition from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms. He led the overseas rollout of Paramount+, supported the global expansion of Pluto TV and championed innovation, digitization and strategic partnerships.

He also was instrumental in the 2022 creation of SkyShowtime, the joint venture between Paramount and Comcast.

Known for his negotiation skills, Annecchino worked closely with major players across the global media ecosystem, including Sky, Canal+, MultiChoice, Viaplay, Corus, J:COM, Claro and Mediapro.

He oversaw the growth of networks such as MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, Channel 5 in the U.K., Network 10 in Australia, Telefe in Argentina and Chilevisión in Chile and backed the development of production hubs across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

He took over as president and CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International in December 2020.

“Such sad news. Raffa was a force of nature. Taken way too young,” former Paramount president and CEO Bob Bakish said on social media. “He will be missed by many. May he rest in peace.”

After leaving Paramount, Annecchino in 2023 founded Blue Ocean Media Partners, a global consultancy focused on innovation, transformation and growth, as its managing partner and CEO.

Born in 1971 in Ivrea, Italy, Annecchino graduated from IE Business School in Madrid with an MBA. He also completed a media executive program at Harvard Business School and INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

He also served on the boards of Viacom 18 India, SBS Media in South Korea and SkyShowtime.

“Raffaele was a deeply valued colleague and a dear friend,” Alex Okosi, former managing director of Paramount Africa and now managing director of Google Africa, said in a statement. “Having worked alongside him through years of international growth and transformation, I saw firsthand his rare ability to combine sharp commercial instinct and strategic vision with genuine warmth, humanity and optimism.

“He built lasting trust, inspired those around him to think bigger and always made time for people. His impact on the global media industry is undeniable, but for those fortunate enough to have known and worked with him, his warmth, generosity and spirit will be just as enduring.”