Showtime’s Amy Israel To Exit, Becoming Latest Departure In Paramount Ranks

There’s more change at Showtime.

Amy Israel, who has been with the brand for more than 10 years, is the latest executive to leave.

Israel, who was most recently EVP, Original Programming, Global Scripted, has been responsible for series such as Billions, SMILF, The Affair, Masters of Sex and Black Monday as well as more recent projects such as Yellowjackets, Halo, The Curse and Fellow Travelers.

Her departure comes a few months after the departure of David Nevins and Jana Winograde and a new role for Gary Levine. Other execs who left included Vinnie Malhotra, Michael Crotty, Rob Rosenberg and Kent Sevener as part of a new leadership team under Nina Diaz that included Keith Cox as President of Scripted.

It comes after Showtime was merged with MTV Entertainment Studios under Chris McCarthy and it was rebranded Paramount+ with Showtime.

See note from Diaz and McCarthy below.

Team,

We have both a bittersweet and an appreciative announcement to share with you – our dear colleague and friend, Amy Israel is stepping down from her role as Showtime’s Head of Scripted today.

For the past 12 years, Amy has been an integral part of the creative team and the driving force behind some of Showtime’s most iconic franchises. From the beloved Billions to the bold hit Yellowjackets, Amy’s love for mentoring staff as well as her ability to nurture and foster talent toward realizing their vision is nothing short of inspiring. Her instrumental role in bringing upcoming, fresh and groundbreaking series like The Curse and Fellow Travelers to life is a testament to her unwavering dedication and devotion.

Under Amy’s guiding influence, the Showtime creative team has played a pivotal role in Paramount’s mission to unleash the power of unique premium global content.  The success of Paramount+’s Halo series is a prime example of the wide-reaching impact her creative leadership and team have had on our business. Amy’s passion for the craft, her flair for pushing creative boundaries and commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on Showtime’. 

But not to worry, Amy will be with us through the end of the year in a transition role. She leaves us in incredible hands with an exceptionally talented group of creatives under Nina’s leadership who will continue to thrive and deliver Showtime premium content that connects deeply with audiences everywhere. And of course, we have Gary – the Godfather of Showtime series – with us as our Senior Creative Advisor.

Please join us in thanking Amy for her remarkable contributions – we wish her much success, happiness and creative fulfillment in her new journey!

Nina and Chris