Paramount Skydance Appoints Rene Augustine as SVP of Global Public Policy Amid Warner Bros Takeover Battle

Paramount Skydance has appointed Rene Augustine, a former Trump administration attorney, as senior vice president of global public policy, according to a company memo reported by Reuters. The strategic hire comes as Paramount intensifies its high-stakes takeover battle with Netflix for control of Warner Bros Discovery’s entertainment assets.

Augustine will officially join Paramount Skydance on February 17 and report directly to Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim. In her new role, she will lead the company’s global public policy strategy, focusing on advancing business objectives and strengthening key diplomatic and regulatory relationships worldwide. The move signals Paramount’s intent to bolster its regulatory expertise and government affairs capabilities during a critical period for the media giant.

Before joining Paramount Skydance, Augustine served as a special assistant to the president and senior associate counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office during the Trump administration. She also held the position of deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division from 2019 to 2021. Delrahim, himself a former senior U.S. antitrust official, previously worked alongside Augustine at the Department of Justice, the Senate, and the White House, highlighting a long-standing professional relationship.

The leadership appointment comes as Paramount and Netflix remain locked in a competitive bidding war for Warner Bros. Paramount recently strengthened its offer by proposing an additional $650 million in cash per quarter to Warner Bros investors if the transaction fails to close after this year. The company has also agreed to cover the $2.8 billion breakup fee owed to Netflix should Warner Bros exit that deal.

Meanwhile, Netflix has offered $27.75 per share in cash to acquire Warner Bros’ film and television studios, extensive content library, and HBO Max streaming platform. The outcome of this acquisition battle could reshape the global media and streaming landscape.